Missing Scene from Legacy. I swear I'm working on the next in the "Chrysalis"and "Denial" series...these little things just keep popping up.

“Look, Teal’c is sick, right? “

“Right.”

“Well, he does have a Goa’uld.”

Jack felt the world bear down on him as realization set in. Oh, God! "Shit" Washing a hand down his face, he sighed and looked to his friend, not knowing where to start. “Daniel,” God, what have we done? Taking a step towards the younger man, Jack winced when he flinched and stepped back. He could visibly see the tremors running through him and Jack held himself responsible for each and every one.

“I…” Jack cautiously took an awkward step forward, nervously playing with his hat in his hands. He hoped to offer his friend something, anything, but he didn’t know where to start. He wanted nothing more than to hold him until that desperate look of uncertainty left his eyes, but Daniel wouldn’t let him near him yet and Jack knew an apology would never come close to what he truly owed the man. “Daniel, I…”

The archaeologist stiffened despite himself and cradled his hands to his chest. “Do…do you believe me?” His voice was barely above a whisper as he stared at the floor and prayed for the one word he needed to hear more than anything else in the world.

“Yes.”

Closing his eyes at the lack of hesitation, Daniel shuddered with relief. And before he knew it, Jack had his arms wrapped around him and his head was gently placed against his C.O.’s shoulder.

…and suddenly… he was powerless against the sobs that broke free to the surface.

Jack slowed the descent of his sobbing friend as Daniel’s hands came up and clutched the back of his jacket. “Jes, Daniel, I’m sorry” he breathed, cradling the younger man’s head against his shoulder and absorbing every single tear like knives to the soul.

“Sshh, I got ya, buddy.” he soothed at a strangled cry, tightening his hold and hoping it wasn't too little, too late. “I’m not going anywhere.”

What must it have been like to think you were losing your mind and not even be able to count on your friends, your family, to hold what little sanity you had left? God. Would Daniel ever be able to forgive them? Would they be able to forgive themselves? …would they even want to?

Finally the heart wrenching, hiccupping sobs subsided, but Jack didn’t relinquish his hold. “Ready to get out of here?” he whispered into a still trembling shoulder. Jack surely was. But the only response he got was Daniel’s arms falling to the sides as he got heavier in Jack’s. Jack furrowed his brow, his heart beginning to race. “Danny?” he called again, shaking the younger man.

“It’s the drugs” came a voice from behind him.

Jack didn’t bother to turn around to see who it was; he knew, and scowled from the knowledge. “What did you do to him!” he spat, as he sat back and gently eased his unconscious friend into his lap to get a better look at him. He merely looked asleep...which actually unsettled Jack even more. And he was cold. Daniel always seemed to be cold. Which was why Jack had lost an unprecedented amount of good sweatshirts over the years.

“Nothing that isn’t standard operating procedure for a man with his illness.” The ease in which Dr. Mackenzie spoke and the lack of remorse in his words set Jack even further on edge.

Facing the psychiatrist, Jack didn’t bother to hold back his rage. “Ah, well you see there’s the kicker!” he hollered. “He doesn’t have an illness! You were wrong!” Looking back down at the man in his arms, he added with a despondent whisper. “We were all wrong.”

Mackenzie was about to say something, but cut himself off at Jack’s venomous glare. Swallowing hard, he started again. “I’ll get him something to start counteracting the drugs in his system.”

“You do that” Jack hissed, each word coming out cold and calculated.

Mackenzie was gone in a flash and Jack was left holding the remains of their mistakes.

Wearily rubbing his forehead with a hand that wasn't cradling his friend, Jack couldn’t believe they let it get this far…that he let it get this far. For crying out loud! They put Daniel in a padded cell! DANIEL!

The silence in the room was deafening and so were Jack’s thoughts. But at least he had something to hang onto. At least he wasn’t alone with them, thinking he was going crazy, thinking the padded walls would be his only comfort for the rest of his life.

…thinking his friends abandoned him to his merciless mind.

Looking down, Jack managed half a grin as Daniel curled into his chest, grabbing a handful of Jack’s jacket. He never expected him to be such a snuggle bug. Maybe it came from all those years he didn’t have his parents’ embrace to feel safe and protect in.

Maybe it came from all those years of having nobody to hold him…

And Jack nearly let it happen again.

God…

Why, after all they’ve seen and experienced, was it easier for them to believe that Daniel had lost his mind? After mulling over a few possibilities, Jack decided that it really didn’t matter. No reason was good enough. They had left a man behind.

“Damnit” Cursing himself, Jack washed a hand down his face a second time. He had left a man behind. He had left Daniel behind. Something he swore he’d never do again. Not even for earth. And here he did it…to protect himself. He did it so he wouldn’t have to watch, powerless, as the last of his best friend’s sanity slipped between his fingertips. He did it…because he was a coward.

Daniel whimpered and tried to bury himself deeper into Jack’s chest. And with a lump in his throat and in ache in his heart, Jack realized that Daniel probably thought he was the padded wall and was vainly trying to seek shelter from the only comfort he had left.

“Ssh, it’s alright.” Jack soothed, gently stroking the younger man’s hair as he tried to control the self revulsion he felt bubbling up in him like acid. He could torture himself later. Right now though, right now his friend needed him. “I’m taking you home.” Where you belong. Where we all come together as one, as family. Where this never would have happened, had we all been there in that place. They needed to get back on track. He needed to gather up all his kids and…

“That might not be such a great idea”

Jack whipped his head around, eyebrows raised incredulously. “Excuse me?”

Mackenzie took a tentative step forward. “He’ll need to be monitored while his dopamine levels return to normal and the drugs….”

“Doc!” Jack stopped him with a hand slicing the air, having heard enough medical bullshit to last him a lifetime. “I hate to break it to you, but you’re gonna have to say goodbye to your little guinea pig, because Daniel is not staying here. In fact, you’re not laying one more needle-pushing-happy finger on him. Is that clear!” Jack’s voice continued to rise with his increasing frustration and anger. “As of now, Daniel Jackson is no longer in your care. He’s coming with me. And if you have any medical concerns on how you screwed him up with your cocktails, then take them to Doctor Frasier after you get me a blanket for my friend.”

“Colonel O’Neill”

Jack swiftly brought a finger up again to cut him off. “Blanket!” he reiterated tersely. “Now!”

Mackenzie sighed and gestured to one of the orderlies. “Get him a blanket.” He knew it would be a waste of time to argue. Yes, he technically out-ranked Jack in this matter, but that didn’t mean a whole load of beans when the colonel was huddled protectively over one of his cubs, especially if he was feeling responsible for the situation they were in.

Jack turned back to his charge. "Come on, buddy," he prodded softly, gently trying to peel him away from his body, but Daniel just clung tighter. "No...no more drugs. I'm not crazy.” he whimpered. “My friend's will tell you...talk to them, they'll tell you." He pleaded, shaking harder and burrowing even further into Jack's chest.

Heart plummeting through the floor, Jack winced. Son of a bitch.

"Daniel, it's over, okay." he cajoled when he finally found his voice. "I..." Damnit. "I hear you, now. I'm here." Wiping his friend's sweaty bangs from his forehead, he prayed he understood him. "And we're going home" he finished hoarsely, grabbing the blanket Mackenzie had been hovering by with and wrapping it around his friend.

Jack then pulled the impossibly small looking figure up with him as he stood and Daniel sighed, falling heavily into the colonel when his legs refused to hold him. Expecting the reaction, Jack already had his arms around the younger man's waist and glared off helpful hands. "Can you stand, Daniel?" he whispered into his ear, trying not to grunt in his attempt to keep him upright. "I need you to stand for me, okay." If he couldn't, Jack really didn't care. He'd carry him out of there. But to his relief, Daniel automatically responded to him, even half unconscious. And slowly his legs began to bear more weight. Not a lot, but enough to keep him upright while Jack half guided, half carried him out of there. "Good job" he praised, lightly squeezing his friend's neck. Then taking one of his arms and draping it over his own shoulders, Jack turned towards the door, but Mackenzie blocked his path.

"Colonel," the psychiatrist eased with his hands held up placidly. "Jack...you really shouldn't be taking him out of here like this."

"No, Doctor," Jack immediately responded, "what I shouldn't have done was let him be brought here in the first place." Adjusting the grip he had on his acquiescing charge, Jack easily pushed past the doctor and headed down the hall, Daniel dangling limply from his side, but for a few fingers that were anchored to Jack's breast pocket.

In hindsight, as they approached the doors that would deposit them into the much cooler air outside, Jack thought maybe he should have at least gotten his friend some socks. But he wasn't about to turn back now and the way Daniel was holding onto him for dear life, as his now opened and terrified eyes scanned for people that would tear him away and shove him back into that room, Jack just didn't have the heart to. Besides, his truck was parked right off the sidewalk. "Almost there" he reassured, pulling him tighter against him. Daniel just hung on, his weak legs desperately attempting to help carry him out of there quicker.

Once they reached the vehicle, Jack eased his friend in, tucking the blanket more securely around him before buckling him in. "Snug as a bug, right?" he grinned, lightly patting Daniel's cheek, hoping to ease the fear he found in his eyes.

"Home?" Daniel surprised Jack by whispering and capturing his gaze. And the child-like hope in his voice nearly broke Jack in two.

Nodding, Jack cupped his friend's cheek firmly. "Home"

And then they were going to have a long, long talk.

-

-

-

-

-

-

End