~~~~~~~~~~
Jack woke up, gasping and croaking for air, his throat was dry and parched and he didnt know where he was. He glanced around the small room, and realized it was surrounded by curtains. The infirmary.
His head was throbbing, and he lifted nimble fingers to his skull only to feel gauze. He unwrtapped the gauze and looked down at the blood soaked item; Memories flying back swiftly, Pat'sk memories. He saw Pat'sk trying to take Daniel, trying to kill him, Daniel defending himself. Jack closed his eyes and held back tears as he let out a shuddering breath.
Jack O'Neill sighed and surveyed his surroundings, his eyes fell upon a book, and then another, and then a pile, and then a foot and a chair. He raised his eyes to see Daniel sleeping in a chair beside his bed, piles of books all around him and one open on his lap. The young man's head was tilted back at an impssible angle and Jack winced in sympathy, thats gonna hurt in the morning.
Jack studied the younger man's face and smiled a weak smile. Daniel's hair was mussed and his mouth lay open gently as he breathed. Something occured to him and he studied the open book on Daniel's lap and sighed. In bold letters, standing above a picture of a statuesque cat is the name 'Bastet'. Daniel was searching, hen had probably stayed up all night to try and find a way to save O'Neill from this *thing* inside of his body. He could feel Pat'sk slithering just under the surface of his skin, he glanced down at his hand and saw the outline of a cat's claws upon his knuckles. It would'nt be long. Pa'sk would take over his body, and then Colonol Jack O'Neill would be gone forever..everyone knew it, the cards and flowers beside his bed proved that. Everyone, including himself had given up on him..had lost hope, all except Daniel.
He remembered PAt'sk's warning..If he didnt do what Pat'sk wanted, then he would find someone who would..He would inhabit Daniel.
Jack could imagine Daniel with lifeless glowing eyes and cat like pupils...Daniel is so delicate, so strong yet so compassionate and caring, he couldnt see Daniel's soul destroyed by this thing. He would have to do as Pat'sk asked, in order to save Daniel.
Jack knew what he had to do. He pulled the IV from his arm and stood up out of his bed. He walked over to Daniel and smiled before leaning down and placing a kiss on the younger man's forehead. He pulled back and stared, searching Daniel's face, if he was allowed one memory after Pat'sk took over he wanted it to be Daniel's angelic features, his perfect beauty. Daniel's mouth was still open and Jack leaned down, touching his lips softly to the full lips of the man he loved, the man he just really found, the man he would never see again. He pulled back, a single tear falling down his cheek. Jack walked to the curtain's exit and glanced back.
"I love you, Daniel. Forgive me."
He glanced out of the curtains and saw Dr. Fraizer and a nurse walk into another room, he saw his chance and carefully but swiftly made his way to the exit of the infirmary. He looked down both paths of the hallway and walked across carefully, almost whistling, trying to prove he wasnt doing anything..'Yah right...I'm in a hospital gown, my ass is hanging out and I'm just casually walking the halls of the SGC..no one will think I'm up to anything..sure..riiiight...'
He heard people approachiong and hid behing a wall, leading to one of the labs..'a distraction..I need a distraction..' He glanced at the red button just beside his head and smiled. 'Well, Hello there...' , he looked down the hall once more and then pressed the button, A high pitched wail filled the halls alerting the entire SGC to an emergency. Soldiers, generals, airforce pilots, nurses, and doctors all ran around, panicked. The red alarm was hardly ever used and when it was it meant something was up..Something serious. 'That should be enough of a destraction for now..', he thought as he carefully headed towards his destination, the gate room.