Methos swore for the fiftieth time as the Air Force personnel once again put him on hold. He felt like throwing the cell out onto the street but knew it wouldn't help matters that much, although it would certainly make him feel better.

Instead, he held the phone to his ear and continued to drive down the highway running through Colorado Springs. If he really was going through with this, and he couldn't get in touch with the old bastard, he was going straight to the NORAD base in Cheyenne Mountain. Not that backing down was an option. Like all the other Immortals that had come here in the past few weeks, he also felt drawn to whatever Danny-boy was hiding in that mountain of his.

Back in Washington State, he'd already begun to feel something pulling on his Quickening, telling him to go traveling to Colorado Springs. It was very faint in Seacouver, but here in Colorado Springs, the pull was much more powerful. Then Joe mentioned something about Immortals being drawn into Colorado Springs for something, and Methos decided to investigate. He hacked into the Database on Joe's computer and looked at the Watcher Reports. He discovered that all of the Immortals that had appeared in Colorado Springs had confronted Daniel Jackson and accused him of making them come to city in the first place.

The fact that Jackson was involved at all had surprised Methos. Back when he was a Watcher, Methos had kept track of all of the Immortals he thought would be a threat to his continued existence. He'd also kept track of the few friends he'd made. Even today, he wasn't sure which category Jackson fell under, but they were on neutral ground the last time Methos saw him, so Methos decided to go to Colorado to see what was going on and see if he could help out. Like the others, he also wanted to find out what was attracting him to this place, but he hoped that he would have more self-constraint when he tried to seek answers.

The 'hold' music coming from the other end of phone connection finally ended. A new voice was on the receiving end. "We're sorry, sir. Dr. Jackson is not available at the moment. If you'd like to leave a message for him, we'll be happy to give it to him whenever he gets back."

Methos frowned. The reports made by Daniel's Watcher hadn't mentioned a trip away from the base. As far as the Watcher was concerned, Daniel Jackson was supposed to be on the Cheyenne Mountain base right now. Methos gave a mental shrug and told the tech, "Tell him Adam Pierson called and that I'll be staying in town for a few days."

"Yes, sir. I'll make sure that he gets the message."

"Thanks." Methos hung up. Then he sighed and pulled up in front of one of the hotels. The next few days were guaranteed to be long ones.

*****

Daniel stumbled into his office the next morning, exhausted. He slipped into a chair and took a sip of coffee before rubbing his temples. He'd been forced to kill another Immortal yesterday afternoon after SG-1 got home from a weeklong trip through the Gate. The Quickening had left him too excited and energized to even get a second of sleep, but it had worn off quickly only an hour or so ago. He was extremely tired, but he needed to finish translating and categorizing the various items that were piled on his desk or the general would kill him, in a manner of speaking.

He stared across the room at the huge three and a half-cubed block SG-10 had brought to Earth only a few weeks back. He'd barely had time to glance at it. Too many events took place in the last few weeks, such as Sam's body being taken over by an alien life form, or the long missions that took place before and after that. Daniel was looking forward to the vacation that was coming up in a few weeks.

Remembering why he was so tired, he suddenly wasn't so sure about getting a chance to relax during his vacation time. In the last three weeks, after Handall tried to get into the base through Daniel, at least three other Immortals had challenged Daniel and lost. They all wanted the same thing. They wanted to get into the base, and claimed something in their Quickenings were directing them to the military compound.

Handall was the only one that claimed to have knowledge of the Stargate and the Goa'uld. The other three just knew that Daniel worked on a base in Cheyenne Mountain and that something instinctive or supernatural or something else was pulling them there. They also knew that he had the power to get them inside Stargate Command. All of them were reasonable at first, negotiable. Then, without warning, they would go from calm to antsy to furious. They would ultimately challenge him, and each time, they didn't give Daniel a choice about that. Thankfully, his head was never in any danger; the Immortals were so overcome with an irresistible urge to get into the base that they couldn't see any sense. Nor could they concentrate much on fighting. Daniel won every challenge easily.

Daniel needed to talk to someone about this. He should tell Janet; she did, after all, know his secret. It was hard to keep his Immortality a secret from the base's medical doctor. She'd known about his Immortality for years, and had agreed to keep it a secret from everyone else. Both of them were concerned about what would happen if the Air Force found out his secret. Janet wanted him to tell Sam, Jack, and Teal'c about his Immortality, but Daniel hadn't made up his mind about that yet.

The least he could do was inform someone, anyone, that the base's security was in danger. However, as long as the Immortals tried to go through him, maybe he could keep the military out of it. He didn't want the military to discover exactly what he was, and since each meeting with an Immortal ended up with a Quickening, there was a chance that the military would find out about it if Daniel got them involved.

He looked down at his desk and noticed a pile of memos lying on it. He glanced through them and his eyes widened. All of them were phone messages from a very old friend, one Adam Pierson, aka Methos, the oldest living Immortal.

His stomach filled with dread. He doesn't want the same thing as those other Immortals, does he? It was true that he and Methos weren't the greatest of friends, but they did get along…occasionally. So far, he hadn't known any of his opponents. Daniel didn't want that to change.

The memo at the bottom of the stack had a hotel phone number on it. Praying to gods he hadn't worshipped in centuries, partly because he'd killed the Goa'uld impersonating one of them, he hoped for the best. He picked up the phone sitting on the other end of his desk and dialed.

The phone was answered in the middle of the first ring. "Pierson," the man on the other end said.

"Hey, Adam."

Methos recognized Daniel's voice immediately. "Jackson! Do you know how many times I've tried to get in touch with you? Where the hell have you been?"

"I can't tell you that, Adam. What are you doing in Colorado?"

"Oh, same old."

Daniel relaxed. He knew Methos meant that he wasn't headhunting. The older Immortal didn't like picking fights. "Be careful with your sword, old man. I've probably made the police want to look everywhere for sword-bearing lunatics."

"Yea, I heard that you were having trouble. We need to talk about that."

Daniel tensed. "Talk," he repeated.

"Yes, talk. I promise, I won't challenge you."

The others promised that as well. Still, Daniel owed the older Immortal the benefit of a doubt; hopefully, it wouldn't come to a sword fight. He could hope.

"I promised to eat out with some friends. Maybe I could swing by your hotel afterwards?"

"All right. But be quick about it. I need to talk to you about what's been going on."

"How did you know what's been going on, anyway?" Daniel asked, suspicious.

"It's a long story. I'll explain tonight. See ya then, kid."

They hung up. Dread filled Daniel at the thought of the upcoming conversation. He hoped that the bad feeling he had about this meeting wouldn't turn out to be what he feared.

*****

Later that night, when SG-1 stepped out of Jason's and headed for the car, Daniel announced that he was meeting someone and that they should go on without him; he'd catch a cab to his apartment later on.

"What? And just who are you meeting at ten at night?" Jack asked, suspicious. Teal'c and Sam also looked at Daniel, curious.

"No one special," Daniel answered, shrugging.

Sam smiled. "I think Daniel has a girlfriend."

Daniel blushed and decided not to deny that statement; let them think he had a lady friend. "I promised I'd stop by after we ate. I need to go or I'm going to be late. See you guys later."

"You'll give us the details later, right?" Sam called when he walked to the street to hail a cab.

"Bye!" he called back without answering her question. A cab pulled up to the curb and he got in.

Sam and Teal'c opened their car doors, but Jack kept watching the cab as it pulled back into traffic and down the street. "Colonel?" Sam asked him, concerned.

Jack turned back to them. "You guys go on home." He handed Carter the keys. "There's something I need to do." He held up a hand to signal a taxi.

Sam caught on to what he intended to do. Wide eyed, she asked, "You're not thinking of following Daniel, are you, sir?"

Jack sighed. "Carter, he's been lying to us and dodging our questions for weeks whenever he has to run out and do something. I think it's time to find out what's going on."

"But what if Daniel Jackson is telling the truth, O'Neill?" Teal'c asked him.

"Only one way to find out," Jack said. He walked over to the waiting cab. "I'll see you guys later."

He instructed the cab to go in the direction Daniel was heading. They followed Daniel's cab to a Days Inn. Jack hurriedly paid the driver, got out, and headed for the hotel's front door.

Inside, he found Daniel standing near the elevators, staring straight at Jack.

Uh-oh. I've been caught. Damn. When had Daniel gotten so good at telling when he was being tailed?

Jack walked over. "Hello, Daniel," he greeted the archeologist, as if this sort of thing happened all the time.

"Jack," Danny greeted him. "Why did you follow me?"

"Who are you meeting?"

"My girlfriend," Daniel replied. "We studied Egyptology together. She's only staying in town for a few days-"

Jack held up a finger, stalling him. "Ah. None of that. Now, who are you really meeting?" The man might have become good at spotting a tail, but he was still a terrible liar.

Daniel sighed. "A very old friend-a guy friend. We're just going to catch up on old times."

Jack wouldn't accept that vague answer. It didn't explain why Daniel lied about it in the first place. "I'm not leaving until I know more, Daniel. Spill."

"His name's Adam Pierson and we were roommates at the university. He was one of the very few people who believe my crazy theories about aliens building the pyramids."

"So, what? This is like a reunion?"

"I guess so." Daniel shrugged. Suddenly, his head came up and he looked around for something. Jack filed the odd action away for later consideration; he still had some questions he'd like the answers to.

"So why the deception?" he asked.

Before Daniel could answer, the elevator opened and a man Jack had never seen before stepped out. "Hey, Adam," Daniel said, sounding relieved and nervous all at the same time. Jack looked at the newcomer. He looked to be about Daniel's age, but that was where the similarities ended; Adam Pierson had dark brown hair and hazel-green eyes. He had sharp features, not to mention a sharp look that, Jack noted, scanned the room like only a soldier would. Jack felt immediately uneasy around the man. If he was a scholar like Danny-boy, then Jack was a physicist with complete knowledge of the inner workings of the Stargate.

"Daniel," Adam greeted his friend with a smile. He looked at Jack. "Who's your friend?"

"Colonel Jack O'Neill, Dr. Adam Pierson," Daniel introduced them. "Jack was just leaving." He turned to Jack and raised an eyebrow. "Weren't you, Jack?"

Jack glanced from him to Adam. He raised an eyebrow back. "Daniel," he said, a note of caution and distrust in his tone.

Daniel rolled his eyes. "Jack," he said, the one word expressing his complete exasperation with the colonel. "I'll see you tomorrow," Daniel said pointedly, raising his eyebrows.

Jack backed down. He still didn't trust Adam, but if Daniel was sure…still, something wasn't right, with Daniel and with Pierson. He determined to get some answers from Daniel at the SGC the next day.

Jack glared at the archeologist, the very expression conveying the warning that the archeologist had better look out for himself. Daniel nodded. Reluctantly, Jack nodded at Pierson, gave Daniel a look that said their conversation was not over, and left the hotel.

Methos and Daniel watched him leave. "It looks like you're in trouble, Daniel."

Daniel nodded and sighed. They entered the elevator car. He waited for the doors to close before speaking. "I don't know how much to tell him."

"So he doesn't know? About what you are?"

Daniel shook his head.

Methos shrugged. "I guess you could lie to him. Say we're together or something."

Daniel looked up, disgusted. "You and me - a couple? No thanks, Adam."

Methos gave him a face before smiling. "It's good to see you again, Daniel. Let's go up to my room."

They traveled up to the third floor in the elevator and walked down the hall to Methos' hotel room. As soon as they were seated at the small table in Methos' room, Daniel spoke one of the questions that were burning in his mind.

"What do you know, Methos?" he asked, speaking Adam Pierson's real name for the first time in years.

Methos sighed. "I've heard a few things about what's been going on over here, Danny. A bunch of Immortals have been coming down here, right? And they were all way too excited and anxious about something."

"Yeah," Daniel said, sighing. "I don't know why. I've never seen anything like it, Methos. Have you? You are older than me."

Methos shook his head. "It's never happened before that I know of. I'm amazed it hasn't happened to you yet."

Daniel looked at him, confused. "What? You mean loosing my mind?"

Methos studied him, puzzled. "You really don't feel it?"

"Feel what?"

"The pulling," Methos answered.

"Not you, too!" Daniel cried, jumping up in frustration as well as horror.

"Don't worry!" Methos said. "It hasn't affected me as much as it has the others."

"Oh, really?" Daniel asked, disbelieving.

"Really!" Methos promised.

Daniel rubbed his eyes with the heels of his hands. After the pressure and nervousness he'd had to deal with over the last few weeks, Daniel had trouble staying calm. He decided to try. He sat back down and took deep breaths. "What does it feel like?" he asked, yet again trusting Methos' judgement. After all, it had been correct in the past.

He continued, "The others said it felt like their Quickenings were being pulled in this direction." He waved at the hotel room, actually indicating the entire city in the gesture.

Methos nodded. "It feels like that for me, too. I could feel it even halfway across the country, but it's stronger here. I don't plan on becoming hysterical anytime soon, however."

"Glad to hear it."

"I feel like I'm being drawn to that base you work at, but I can contain it for now." Methos titled his head. "What do you have in that mountain anyway?"

Daniel met his gaze, wondering if he should tell him or not. It's not like it'll be anything new for him, Daniel reminded himself. "They found the Stargate, Methos. They dug it up in Giza."

Methos sat back, shocked. "Can't you get them to bury it again? Don't they realize it's too dangerous to keep open?"

Daniel nodded gravely. "Oh, they know. We've used it to explore the galaxy, actually."

"What?!"

Daniel quickly filled him in on what had happened in the past five years, from the first mission to Abydos to their first encounter with the replicator bugs. Methos listened to it all. "Incredible," he said at last. Shaking his head, he smiled. "So Ra is dead, then? Hathor and Isis and Seth as well?"

"And a few others," Daniel said.

Methos gave him a genuinely happy and relieved smile. "By the Gods. That is wonderful news." He thought about everything that Daniel told him for awhile before something occurred to him. "Maybe something you brought back through the Gate is causing this feeling," he said.

"Could be," Daniel said, thinking about it. "When did it start...?" he mumbled. He thought back to three weeks ago when Handall caught him in the bathroom, and Daniel's eyes widened. "Of course!" he said loudly. "Three weeks ago, SG-10 brought back a huge cube covered in a mix of Etruscan and Carthaginian writing. I haven't had time to even look at it for over five seconds with all the missions SG-1 has been sent on. That could be what's causing the pulling."

Methos nodded. "Yes, it could. But why aren't you affected?"

Sighing, Daniel rubbed his eyes in frustration. "I don't know. Maybe because I've been off-world so much."

"What are you planning on telling your friend, O'Neill?"

"Not the truth if I can help it. I will have to tell Janet, though. She's the base's medical doctor. She's known about my Immortality almost since the beginning." He stood up and headed for the door. "I'd better get going. I'll make up some excuse to get Sam to run a few tests on it. Maybe it's giving off an electronic pulse or something similar that affects Immortals. I'll call you if something turns up."

*****

Daniel fell asleep that night wondering what he was going to do. He didn't know what he would tell Jack and the others, and he didn't know how he was going to solve the latest crisis on his own. Well, maybe not completely on his own. Methos and Janet would help him.

The next morning at the SGC, he avoided accidentally crossing paths with Jack by taking the long way to the infirmary. When he finally arrived at Janet Frasier's office, he found the doctor seated behind her desk, going over medical reports.

She looked up when he entered. "Hey, Daniel." She held up one of the reports and grinned. "Once again, you've managed to stay in perfect health. How do you do it?"

Daniel tried to give her a smile, he didn't really feel up to it at the moment. Instead, he plopped down in the chair.

"Daniel? What's wrong?"

"A lot of things, actually. I've taken four Quickenings in only three weeks."

"What?" Startled, Janet sat up straight. "But...how? Why? Why didn't you tell me before now? You've only been challenged twice in five years!"

Daniel winced. "Yeah, I know." He filled her in on everything. Janet listened to it with her full attention. Afterwards, she sat back and shook her head.

"I don't know how we could get Sam's help without telling her the truth, Daniel. I really think it's time for you to tell SG-1 and General Hammond. They should know if there's been a security breech and Immortals are trying to get into the complex."

Daniel sighed. "I wish this wasn't so strange. I don't understand why the stone isn't making me feel the same way as the others. It might have something to do with all my trips through the Stargate lately."

"Can't know until we tell them about it, Daniel," Janet reminded him.

"Yeah. I guess they should find out sometime," Daniel said, although he didn't like the idea. It wasn't that he didn't trust his teammates. Far from it, actually. He trusted them with his life, even his head. But he'd kept it a secret from them for so long, he was afraid they'd treat it like some sort of betrayal.

However, Janet was right. They needed to know the truth. Daniel stood up. "I'll get the General to schedule a meeting in the briefing room, then I'll call you and you can help with the explanation. Okay?"

Janet smiled, assuring him that everything would turn out all right. She nodded. "See you then."

*****

Methos paced uneasily inside his small hotel room. Sometime over night, that yearning feeling to get closer to that cube had gone up a notch. Just a notch, but it was enough to slightly effect his behavior. He should call Daniel and tell him what's up, but after having to wait so long on the phone only two days ago, he was a little hesitant. He sighed as he went over to the closet to dig his cell out of his trench coat pocket. He'd get some breakfast while he waited for his call to be put through to Cheyenne Mountain. Whenever he got Daniel on the line, Methos would have to ask for a phone number that he could use to reach the archeologist no matter what the time.

The cell phone started to ring as he dug it out. Quickly, he pulled it out and snapped it open. "Pierson."

"Methos! Where the hell have you been? Mac and Amanda are in town. They tried to find you yesterday but you weren't anywhere."

Methos winced. He had left in a hurry. Not that that was unusual behavior for him, but he should have at least told his friends where he was going this once; they'd planned to eat lunch and dinner together the day before. "Sorry, Joe. I'm not in Seacouver anymore. I decided to take a little trip."

"What? Where are you-" There was a pause, and Methos knew the pieces were coming together in his mortal friend's mind. "You're in Colorado."

"Yes. Do you know if MacLeod or Amanda have felt something...odd making them want to go in this direction?"

"What? Don't tell me you believe what happened to those other Immortals."

"It's a big coincidence, Joe." And I've felt it myself, although it's not as bad. "Look, I'm going to be checking a few things out over here, so I'll probably be here for a few days. Please don't tell MacLeod or Amanda where I am. Unless they start feeling strangely. If they do, you might as well tell them, okay? But do everything you can to keep them in Seacouver. They'd be better off over there. The pulling is worse here at such close proximity to whatever is causing it."

"'Pulling?' Methos, are you effected by this…whatever as much as those other guys?"

Methos was silent for a minute. "Yes," he finally admitted. "But I’m able to resist it more."

Joe snorted. "Right. That's why you've managed to avoid going to Colorado Springs so far."

The Immortal sighed. "I'm here to check on some things with an old friend who might have an idea of what's going on. I promise to come back in one piece, Joe. But you have to keep Amanda and MacLeod there. They wouldn't be able to resist it as well as I can. Promise me, Joe, that you won't let them get anywhere near here until all of this is over."

There was a pause. "You really thinks it's necessary?"

Methos rolled his eyes. "Yes, Joe. I do."

There was another pause. "Okay, then. I promise."

Methos closed his eyes in relief.

Joe continued, "Keep in touch, okay? And I want the whole story when you get back."

"Thanks, Joe. I'll call you tomorrow."

He hung up, then asked the operator to put his call through to Cheyenne Mountain. After waiting the necessary time to leave Daniel yet another message, Methos went out to get breakfast. He knew he wouldn't be able to wait for Daniel to call back for that long. Sooner or later, he'd run out of control. He'd told Joe that he wasn't as effected, and that was true, but he could feel the urge to hunt down the source of the pulling grow stronger all the time. He could only stay in town for a few more days; after that, he either got himself out, or he'd become a liability. He hoped that Daniel figured out what was going on long before that point.

He had faith in his younger friend. Daniel hadn't let him down before, and he was certain that the archeologist would find a solution.

*****

Part Three