Illia sat in the shade and watched the love of her life happily uncovering whatever mysteries lay buried in the sand. She thought back in time to her fateful mistake and remembered the pain she had caused. That would have been punishment enough but still the council chose to banish her and her kin from the city. Now the family had to toil outside the dome in the elements to scrape together the means to survive from day to day. Yet when she looked into the dancing blue eyes of the one life she’d managed to save, it all seemed worthwhile.

‘Daniel,’ she called with her mind. He looked up from his task, a profound expression of concentration on his face. ‘Let’s go inside.’

He came to her willingly and she kissed his head as she gathered her small grandson into her arms and carried him into the sparsely furnished hut to prepare the evening meal. They had little, but she wanted for nothing; creature comforts meant nothing compared to the great joy of having a baby in the home.

Sitting the child at the table to play with his small wooden toys, Illia reflected on his unlikely existence. Since their expulsion from the city had been immediate upon sentencing, the council had not been witness to her daughter’s burgeoning abdomen and somehow they had managed to keep their emotions in check. The communal shunning that severed the mental bonds with everyone inside the dome further helped to hide the little one’s presence.

His birth had been difficult and frightening, leaving his mother Veda frail and weary for many days. But the boy himself had been without flaw and thrived under the attention of the small, outcast clan. She hoped and prayed that their isolation would be enough to shelter him from the council.

As Daniel grew he continued to be happy and healthy with but a single difficulty, yet one which became more distressing with each passing day. Although he was obviously bright for his age, he had yet to try to communicate with anyone. The ability to receive was almost a certainly as he responded promptly when called, at least on a physical level, provided of course his intense attention wasn’t focused somewhere else.

With no references available to her to ease her mind, Illia struggled to overcome her growing conviction that his development was abnormal. Instead she made a conscious choice to think of it in terms of evolution. After all, her grandchild was an amalgam of two closely related yet undeniably different races. There were bound to be repercussions. She just hoped that she, and more importantly, Daniel could live with them.

With a sigh she put her grandmotherly worries away and turned her attention to peeling the roots she had gathered earlier from the garden. Even without the incessant cerebral chatter that she remembered fondly from her daughter’s early childhood, there was a sense of peace and utter fascination with the world emanating from the boy. With his sweet disposition and easy nature even if Daniel never developed the means to converse, the child would always be loved and cared for.

As she worked, Illia provided a colorful illustration to Daniel to keep his mind busy, pleased to see him smile as the images formed a story in his head. Suddenly the playful telling was interrupted by an anxious cry.

‘Mother!’

‘Veda? What is it?’ Illia asked in alarm, watching as the terrified child instantly picked up on the panic.

‘They know! The council has discovered our deception!’

Unable to shield Daniel from the wave of anguish and fear ripping through her, Illia pulled him up from the table into a crushing hug. Once the initial anxiety subsided and she was able to think again, she loosened her hold and began shushing the still frightened boy with another story. Grabbing several items and stuffing them into a bag she put into motion the plan they had foolishly pretended they would never need.

---

“What’s up?” Jack asked as he stepped into the control room, eyeing the light from an open wormhole flickering behind the closed iris. “Carter?”

“Sir,” Sam acknowledged his presence without offering any information as her fingers danced over the keyboard in front of her.

“General?” Jack tried again, this time turning to the grim faced man overlooking the ‘gate. “You paged?”

Hammond sighed with obvious discontent. “It appears we’re being hailed from P2C-835.”

“835…” Jack repeated shaking his head slightly as he mentally went over his own short list of remembered planet designations. “That one doesn’t ring a bell, sir.”

“Uh, yeah, didn’t we go there a couple years ago?” Daniel asked, arriving with Teal’c in time to overhear the conversation.

“Indeed we did, Daniel Jackson,” Teal’c uttered, apparently disturbed by the news. “I believe that was the planet with the domed city.”

“Where you were cloned,” Jack finished, his face darkening with the recognition. “Don’t we have call blocking?” he grumbled as the blue light abruptly blinked out.

“This isn’t AT&T, Jack,” Daniel noted as he turned pensively to the gate technician. “Was there an impact event?”

“No sir,” Sergeant Davis reported as the iris whirled open. “There have been three separate wormholes established in the last fifteen minutes from the same place. No impact events.”

“They know about the iris,” Daniel reasoned out loud, suddenly becoming aware of everyone looking at him. “The clones knew everything I did so one of them must have warned them not to attempt to come through the stargate to Earth.”

Jack grunted his displeasure. “Pity.”

“You know, this is exactly how Daniel got our attention last time,” Sam uttered distractedly, turning in her seat to face the group behind her.

“Actually, I went to the Alpha site…”

“The other Daniel,” Jack interrupted. “I mean Daniel…ssss; we ended up with four of em, ya know. And yeah, this is exactly how they got us to send a MALP.”

“Oh.”

“Incoming wormhole,” Davis announced, checking his screen as the first chevron lit and the outer rim began to spin. “It’s from P2C-835. Again.”

“They seem determined. Couldn’t we at least send a MALP and see what they want?” Daniel suggested with a hopeful glance in General Hammond’s direction.

“No,” Jack insisted forcefully. “We don’t care what they want. We may not have call blocking, but I know damn good and well that place is locked out of the dialing computer. Right? General?”

“You’re right about that, Colonel,” Hammond agreed as the expected whoosh appeared. “Unfortunately that doesn’t keep them from dialing here. Close the iris, Sergeant.”

“Yes sir,” Davis responded, placing his hand on the iris control. Everyone silently watched the computer screen over his shoulder for several minutes until the empty wormhole sputtered out and the iris automatically spun open. “Again, no impact event.”

“They are clearly knocking on the door,” Daniel declared, releasing the breath he’d been holding.

“So? We don’t have to answer.”

“Jack…”

“Daniel.”

“What if it’s Daniel?” Sam asked softly, leaving both men open mouthed and staring at her, effectively halting the verbal sparring match before it even started.

“What?” they snapped in unison.

“Uh, Carter? Hello?” Jack continued, shoving his whole hand in Daniel’s direction. “We’ve got the original right here. Adam’s rib, remember? Show her the star scar,” he ordered the still gaping linguist.

“Uh… actually it sort of faded with time,” Daniel answered, reflexively fingering the material of his shirt over the spot where the cells had been extracted.

“I meant a clone, sir,” Sam tried again in mild exasperation.

Jack set his jaw but the rest of his face remained an emotionless mask. “Yeah, I know what you meant. They all died.”

“What if they didn’t?” Sam persisted. “What if one survived somehow? What if it’s… Two?”

“Is that possible?” Hammond asked with concern.

“A race as advanced as these would have the means of maintaining a life form in suspended animation,” Teal’c suggested. “Perhaps they chose to keep a Daniel Jackson in reserve.”

“I suppose they could have frozen one or something,” Daniel mused. “Maybe they found a way to reverse the damage.”

“And I repeat… So?”

“I’m sorry. I don’t understand your reluctance to even consider checking this out,” Daniel began single-mindedly, stopping in surprise at the malevolent glare shot his way.

“We watched you die,” Jack explained in a deceptively calm voice, “Over and over again.”

“I’m not dead.”

“Dammit, Daniel, you weren’t here. You didn’t have to watch them suffer.”

“I did!” Daniel affirmed, anger rising red in his face. “I guess you’ve forgotten the ones I was with died, too. And not in a warm, comfy infirmary bed with nurses and doctors and medicine to ease their pain; they died on the cold ground with nothing but me to take care of them.”

“And do you really want to watch that again?” Jack whispered hoarsely, unconcerned that every eye in the room was on them, “Because even without the amenities, I can’t imagine it being much worse.”

“What if they did put one in suspended animation and he just woke up? He might not know he’s not the original,” Sam broke in heatedly. “He might be frightened and alone on another planet, just trying to get home. It’s still Daniel, sir.”

“Oh for Pete’s sake,” Jack swore furiously, throwing his hands up as he turned away to pace to the other side of the control room. “It doesn’t matter. That planet is locked out anyway.”

The stargate began to spin and the chevrons once again lit one by one. “Off world activation from P2C-835.”

“Can it be unlocked?” Daniel asked urgently. “I mean it hasn’t been removed or… or deleted, it’s just locked, right?”

“That’s right,” Sam confirmed somberly as she looked up at him.

“What would it take to unlock it?”

“A few keystrokes.” Sam shifted her gaze to Jack.

“Colonel?” Hammond questioned, seeking input from his second in command before making his decision.

“Stroke ‘em,” Jack muttered unhappily without glancing up.

“Prepare a MALP, Sergeant,” Hammond ordered briskly. “SG-1, be ready to leave in fifteen minutes just in case.”

“Yes sir,” Sam sighed in relief as she slid from the chair, casting her C.O. a concerned glance as she passed him on her way to the locker room. Teal’c followed without a word.

When Daniel stopped in front of him Jack looked up and met his eyes for a moment. Wordlessly they made their peace before heading off together as the new wormhole blossomed.

---

“Maybe they gave up,” Daniel sighed from the seat next to Sam. “They stopped calling what? Twenty minutes ago?”

“Yeah, eighteen to be exact. Pan right,” Sam directed, keeping her attention on the screen but keenly aware of the brooding man standing behind her.

“Perhaps the individual was frightened by the MALP and has hidden,” Teal’c offered calmly, leaning forward as he noticed something on the screen. “Sergeant Davis, please direct the camera towards the ground.”

“Footprints,” Sam noted as the image shifted down to the soft soil in front of the gate.

“Lot’s of ‘em,” Jack agreed, speaking for the first time since returning to the control room. “It looks like we missed the party.”

“Or maybe one person was pacing. Oh, wait!” Daniel pointed at one of the screens overhead.

A woman rushed from the bushes and advanced directly to the MALP. The camera followed her with a jerky motion, finally focusing on her face. The tracks of her tears were apparent as she silently pleaded for help.

“Well it’s definitely not Daniel.” Sam sounded extremely relieved.

“She looks familiar,” Daniel muttered, scrunching up his brow as he tried to remember.

“As I recall, they all look alike,” Jack argued grumpily. “Talk to her.”

“As I recall, they can’t hear,” Daniel retorted. “And unless this MALP can read brainwaves, the only way to find out what she wants is to go there.”

“You knew that before you suggested sending a MALP,” Jack accused. Getting no response other than guileless blue eyes he let out a long, noisy breath and turned to face Hammond. “Sir?”

“You have a go, SG-1. Report back within the hour.”

“Yes sir,” Jack acknowledged, leading his team down the stairs and around the corner into the gateroom before speaking again. “Daniel.”

“Jack?”

“Stay where I can see you.”

Daniel stopped in mid-reach to his vest from the ready stack of gear at the foot of the ramp. “Why?”

“We already know they like your make and model. We don’t want a repeat performance,” Jack declared, staring his teammate down before reaching for his own equipment.

Forgoing an eye roll, Daniel nodded his head in reluctant agreement.

With no intention of staying, they were traveling light and quickly donned vests and gathered their weapons. Since the signal from the probe still held the wormhole open they were ready to go within seconds.

“Teal’c, you’re with me,” Jack ordered, clattering toward the gate then through it with the Jaffa close behind. Sam exchanged a sympathetic look with Daniel and they followed side by side.

---

As they cleared the event horizon, Daniel spotted the woman still kneeling in front of the MALP. He moved to her instinctively as Sam cut the signal and the event horizon sputtered out, but ran into Jack’s outstretched arm blocking his path.

Crying profusely and shaking with unnervingly silent sobs, the woman rose to her feet and tried to compose herself as she swiftly studied each member of SG-1. Sweeping her gaze quickly over Teal’c then Jack and Daniel to Sam, she hesitated before turning an accessing stare back toward Daniel. Recognition and relief registered on her face as she rushed to him, brusquely pushing her way past Jack. She shifted the bundle she carried and raised her freed hand quickly to Daniel’s forehead.

“O’Neill!” Teal’c shouted in the same instant Daniel’s head shot up in surprise. They both looked toward the little hill that rose above the stargate.

“We need to get out of here,” Daniel warned.

“Dial us home,” Jack ordered, hefting his weapon as a crowd of women crested the rise. “What did she say?” he asked Daniel urgently as Sam dialed Earth.

“She didn’t ‘say’ anything, she just showed me… them,” Daniel expounded, shocked as the woman thrust her burden into his arms and tearfully kissed him before rushing towards rather than away from the advancing mob. “I think she’s trying to buy us some time.”

The vortex barely settled before Sam punched in their IDC. “Go!”

Jack urged Daniel and Sam forward and then he and Teal’c stepped through together, leaving the MALP behind in their haste. They arrived back at the SGC to a screech of terror erupting from the blanket in Daniel’s arms. As weapons leveled at his chest from every direction, Daniel struggled to hang on to the thrashing form.

“Hold fire!” Jack yelled, reaching out to snatch away the rough woolen covering to expose a small, terrified face underneath. He stared dumbfounded at the child who continued to resist the tenuous grasp of the equally stunned archeologist. Daniel appeared to be losing the battle as the little arms and legs flailed in wild panic.

“It’s okay,” Sam soothed, quickly handing off her P-90 to Teal’c as she moved closer to try to help. When the boy saw her he immediately launched himself forward, wrapping his arms tightly around her neck as he continued to shriek.

“It’s a kid,” Jack muttered in disbelief, not loud enough to be heard over the wail.

Still holding the blanket and a woven bag, Daniel gaped as he distractedly rubbed the ache at the top of his right thigh where he had been kicked repeatedly, thankful the blows hadn’t landed a few inches to the left. “I don’t understand.” He opened the bag in the hopes there might be something to explain what had just happened, but found only a small assortment of baby clothes and a couple of hand-made toys.

“Shhh.” Sam rocked the little one rhythmically and pressed his head down to her shoulder. Slowly his cries began to quiet but he buried his face and held onto to his newfound friend with fierce determination.

“Daniel Jackson,” Teal’c stated solemnly.

“Yeah?” Daniel asked, closing his mouth and forcing his gaze up from the contents of the bag to Teal’c’s face. “Oh,” he mouthed quietly, catching on when he found Teal’c looking not at him but at the boy instead.

“You don’t think…” Sam started, aghast as she too looked down at the small blond head cradled against her. “Holy Hanna. He’s a clone.”

“Christ,” Jack swore angrily, looking anywhere but at the youngster at he tried to calm his conflicting emotions. Failing miserably, he turned on his heel and marched out of the gateroom even as the general entered from the opposite door.

The sound of the whimpering child broke the silence as the rest of SG-1 exchanged horrified glances with each other over the possible implications, barely aware of General Hammond’s arrival at the foot of the ramp.

“Major Carter?” Hammond asked expectantly, having witnessed Jack’s hasty exit.

Sam bit her lip as she looked up. “It looks like they’ve changed their M.O., sir,” she explained hesitantly, turning to better display her little bundle of joy. “They probably had some of Daniel’s DNA left over and found a way to start from scratch, so to speak.”

“But did they work out the other problems?”

“I hope so, but we really have no way to know for sure.” Sam grimaced, hugging the small body a bit tighter.

“Perhaps only time will reveal that information,” Teal’c agreed sagely.

Hammond nodded his understanding, a bleak expression on his face. “Very well. Get the little fellow down to the infirmary and let Doctor Fraiser check him over right away,” he ordered with a subtle sense of urgency.

“Yes sir,” Sam whispered, shifting the sniffling child to her hip to carry him.

Teal’c turned over the weapons in his hands to one of the gateroom guards and gathered the half sized blanket that still hung loosely from Daniel’s hand. “Are you not coming, Daniel Jackson?” he asked as he tucked the wrap around the baby and guided Sam towards the door, leaving Daniel standing alone on the ramp.

“I… uh, yeah,” Daniel replied, snapping out of his fugue long enough to exchange a bewildered glance with the general as he passed him.

“Are you okay with this, Daniel?” Hammond asked kindly, uncharacteristically using his first name as he clamped a hand to his shoulder to halt his escape.

Daniel let out a startled laugh. “Do you mean him or me? Sorry,” he muttered contritely. “I don’t know why I said that.” Sam stopped and stared at him worriedly over the top of the blanket.

“It’s all right, son, this is bound to be a shock to you.” Hammond patted his back and handed him off to Teal’c who gave his elbow a gentle tug to get him started again. “We’ll debrief in an hour.” The general called after them.

“Yes sir,” Sam answered for the group as they made their way down the corridor. She used a corner of the blanket to wipe little Daniel’s face.

Stopping in front of the elevator, the larger counterpart fumbled in his pocket for a Kleenex which he handed over to Sam with empathy. “If you really are me, your sinuses are going to hate you later,” he advised the tot knowingly, still quietly freaking out.

No longer screaming, the boy stared at Daniel and then Teal’c as Sam cleaned his face and runny nose. He still appeared to be frightened, but couldn’t help but look around inquisitively as they made their way to the infirmary.