Daniel looked up, about to ask Casey if she was ready for a coffee break. Frowned when he realized she wasn't in the room. He heaved a sigh. He had hoped that the fact that she hadn't had the nightmare would ease her unfathomable need to be near the Quantum Mirror. His gut told him that was exactly where she was at. "I'm going to take a break," he said quietly. "You guys do the same. We need to get these translations completed, but we don't need to burn ourselves out doing it."

Cam quirked an eyebrow. Not long ago, Daniel wouldn't have left his office until he'd completed translating every pillar that was photographed. How many times had he tried to make the brilliant archaeologist understand that exhausting himself in the pursuit of translations, of finding the answers to the questions that plagued him, didn't do anything for him, or those around him? Amazing what the love of a good woman could do to...and for...a man. He hid his smile, gave a nod of agreement.

Jonas looked up from where he sat at Casey's desk, nodded his acknowledgement as well.

The redheaded archaeologist stretched. "Daniel," Cam said, "you can tell me to mind my own damned business, but...is everything okay? Casey seems so...distracted...lately, and both of you look like you could use a couple of nights' sleep."

He tossed his pencil onto the desk, leaned back in his chair, took his glasses off with one hand, scrubbed the other hand over his face. "Casey's been dealing with a very...intense...nightmare," Daniel said wearily. "The worst part is, when she's fully awake, she can't remember even the tiniest detail."

That was unusual, Cam thought. His frown matched that of his boss. "Maybe it's just a good old fashioned nightmare, and not a premonition. With all she's been through lately, that would certainly be a normal reaction to the stress."

Feeling vindicated that someone else could see that it was stress bothering his Wife, and not a premonition of impending disaster, Daniel flashed a smile, settled his glasses back on his nose. "That's what I told her. I'm going to try to get a couple of days off. Last night was first she slept without having the nightmare in almost two weeks," he replied.

"Probably a good idea to take time off now. Don't know how much we'll be able to get after we start this 'scavenger hunt'," Cam said.

"My thoughts exactly," Daniel nodded. "Okay. Break. In fact, let's just call it a day. I know, it's not even three yet. But days are going to be long around here. Take the early secure and run."

Cam grinned. "I'm betting you haven't read the memo about the fact that the mountain is basically locked down until the president leaves."

Well, shit! He had forgotten that the politician was wandering the concrete corridors of the SGC. So much for getting Casey out of here early! "I hate dog-and-pony shows," Daniel muttered, not quite under his breath.

"There will be dogs and ponies?" Jonas piped up, his eyes going wide with excitement. He'd seen pictures, of course, but to actually get to see, and maybe even touch real, breathing animals...

Daniel chuckled. "It would probably make the day more bearable. But no. It's just a maxim...an old saying," he added, noting the frown on the Kelownan's face. "It means to put on an elaborate presentation. Usually in an attempt to garner support. Here at the SGC, it's a very carefully arranged tour meant to show visiting dignitaries, mostly politicians, what the Stargate Program is about, to get funding."

"Oh," Jonas said quietly. His disappointment was obvious, to the amusement of his companions.

"Maybe you should plan a trip to the zoo," Cam suggested.

Jonas gave the archaeologist a thoughtful look. "That would be very interesting," he agreed.

Cam and Daniel exchanged grins.

"Casey and I will take you," Daniel offered. Thought about how much fun it would be watching the Kelownan, and his Wife...especially in the petting zoo.

"Really? That would be wonderful!" Jonas exclaimed.

Daniel's grin widened. "I'll talk to her about it. Maybe we can plan it for this coming weekend."

"I'll be ready whenever you say," Jonas promised.

"I'm sure you will be. For now, find something fun to do." Daniel rose from his chair. "I'm going to find Casey, and a cup of coffee."

Cam was gathering his notes. "I think I'm going to sit down and read the new 'Archaeologist's Digest'. Haven't had a chance to even peek at it yet."

"Let me know if there's anything interesting," Daniel said over his shoulder as he walked toward the door.

"I will," Cam replied.

His hand was on the doorknob when he heard voices. Male voices. Okay, that was...odd. He peeked into the room, not certain what to expect. The mirror was on...and two armed Marines were standing in the storage room...in the opposite reality.

A small frown on his face, Daniel stepped into the room. "Uh...hello."

Their reaction was one of shock: seeing the man who Ferretti had just carried to the infirmary standing there...staring at them with a slightly confused look on his face...was an oddity they hadn't been prepared for.

When he moved toward the mirror, both men raised their weapons. "Just relax, fellas. I'm one of the good guys," Daniel said.

"Says you," one of the Marines responded.

Casey was obviously not here. He was ready to turn around and leave, telling the men that he'd make certain that they weren't disturbed, a thought that almost made him chuckle out loud, when he caught sight of a boot just in front of the mirror...on the wrong side. The sole was turned toward him. On the heel of that government issued boot was a sharp cut. Made when the team had been crawling over the rocks to examine two other ruins on the planet where they'd located Ba'al's temple, and the bas-relief of him holding what they now knew was a piece of an Ancient weapon. Casey had slid over what was left of a column, onto the sharp edge of what had once been a metal beam of some sort. She hadn't been hurt, but Teal'c had pointed out the cut as they made their way back to the 'gate, her boot print revealing the new imperfection. His eyes scanned the floor...the other boot was laying beneath the work bench. His heart nearly stopped beating as the implications of the arrangement of those boots settled in his mind. He forced himself to remain calm...absently wondering why Casey had taken off her boots in the first place. "I don't suppose you know where the owner of those boots might be?" he asked, pointing to the leather footwear. "Five-seven, blonde hair, big green eyes."

The men exchanged a look. That was what the intruder had looked like, all right. "What about her?"

"She's my Wife. And if she's there, I'm gonna kill her," Daniel replied easily. He shook his head, held up a hand at the horrified expressions on the faces that studied him carefully. "Not literally. But if she's there, she's in the wrong reality. And that doesn't make me a happy man. Scares me to death, to be honest."

This man, who looked and sounded like their Doctor Daniel Jackson, was watching them expectantly. It was obvious that he already knew that the woman was here. He'd seen the boots, and his breath had caught in his throat, his eyes had widened slightly; and for a moment, full blown panic had filled those cerulean blue depths. "She came through not more than fifteen minutes ago. Attacked our Doctor Jackson," the youngest of the two men replied.

"She what? Casey would never do that!" Daniel exploded.

"He was on the floor, out cold, and she was kneeling over him," the other man said firmly.

"Yeah, so that's proof of her guilt, of course," Daniel said dryly. He stepped toward the mirror.

"Our orders are to make certain nobody else comes through that thing," the first Marine said, adjusting his aim slightly.

"So shoot me already. My Wife is there. If you think I'm not going to come over there after her, you're crazy," Daniel replied determinedly.

The two men exchanged a look. Opening fire on Daniel Jackson...any Daniel Jackson...wasn't something they were eager to do. "Let me call my CO," the Marine said. "Just stay there, Doctor Jackson. We really don't want to shoot you. But we will."

He nodded his understanding. Couldn't blame the men, actually. The truth was, things would be the same on this side of the mirror if someone...Annika for example...had come waltzing through and had been found kneeling beside his unconscious body. Which then begged the question, what the hell was going on? Casey would never attack him...attack his counterpart, he corrected himself hastily...and if that Daniel had gone down for whatever reason...He nodded mentally. That's what had happened. His counterpart had gone down...passed out. And she had gone through the mirror to help him. Knowing his Wife, it was the only explanation. The question of why the alarms hadn't been set off never formed in his mind. He was too focused on locating Casey...and bringing her back where she belonged. He glanced at the man talking into the radio clipped to his shoulder harness, a knot of fear in his belly growing with every passing second. Hurry up, damn it! My Wife is there! I have to get to her!

She could feel the mental 'jerk', as the new presence was startled at being addressed directly. The fear increased, and both Casey and the Seventh Level Being felt the 'seedling' start to draw away. Instinct, deep and resonating within her, told her not to scare off this 'seedling'. She had to find a way to let this little one know that neither she, nor her friend the tree, would harm her. But how? She frowned slightly. Okay, if she could 'talk' to the tree mentally, and it was obvious that the tree was allowing her to sense the child, it seemed only natural that she could 'talk' to this little one just by 'thinking' what she wanted to say, concentrating on the direction of the link. "It's okay...don't be afraid. My name is Casey. My...friend...is, um...er...I don't know your name."

"My Tau'ri saplings call me 'Oakey'." There was the briefest of pauses. "It is an honor to meet you, Guide sapling Casey."

'Her' Tau'ri saplings? 'Guide sapling'? Sure, why not. If I was a tree, I'd think in those terms, too, I suppose. "Um...yeah...pleasure to make your acquaintance," Casey replied almost absently, her focus still on the child. "This is Oakey. What's your name?"

There was a long pause, both woman and tree waiting anxiously for the reply. Finally a small voice, clearly that of a child, whispered back, "Sachee."

Well, how about that...it worked! "And where are you, Sachee?"

Casey had squeezed her eyes shut, as if doing so would help her to 'see' the child she was speaking to. As a result, she wasn't aware of the two Marines who had entered the room until one of them called to her.

"Hey, lady!"

She opened her eyes. As much as she wanted out of the cell, as much as she needed to talk to General Hammond, she knew...on some subconscious, psychic level...that this conversation was much more important. "Do you know what you did to make you...um...visit...with us?"

The Marines exchanged glances. "What?" the leader asked, clearly confused.

"No," Sachee's voice trembled. "I was walking with Myst and then she suddenly cried out like something was hurting really bad and then she grabbed her ears...and...and she fell and hit her head and now she won't wake up."

Oh, that poor kid! Definitely a little girl. And she sounded absolutely terrified! This must be how an emergency operator felt, Casey thought briefly. "It's okay, honey. Is Myst breathing?"

One of the Marines took her arm...gently this time, although she was too preoccupied to do more than notice peripherally that she was being led out of the cell and into the corridor. If she wasn't mistaken, and this SGC was laid out the same as her own, they were taking her to the interrogation room. She was marginally aware of Oakey's annoyance at the 'interruption'...and something about 'rainbow-striped bark'. Her full concentration was pulled back to the 'conversation' when the connection with the 'seedling' wavered. The 'movement' that Oakey made...which felt and sounded like the rustling of leaves, another oddity Casey didn't have the time to consider...let her know She had felt it as well.

The feeling that keeping 'in touch' with Sachee was important, not knowing...or caring...why that would be, Casey tried to reach out. "Sachee, please don't go."

"Sorry...I let go for a second."

'Let go'. That would mean that somehow little Sachee had reached out to her...or Oakey...or somebody. Had managed to grab onto them mentally. As young as the child seemed to be, Casey knew that there was a chance she would tire quickly. Better get as much as I can now, she thought. She and the two Marines were nearly at the end of the corridor. The two men continued to look at her as if she'd lost her mind...a fact to which she remained happily oblivious. "Sachee, who is Myst?"

That explained the emotional connection the little girl seemed to have with this mysterious 'Myst', a connection that Casey could sense. Again, her assumption was that Oakey's strength was allowing her the full spectrum of sense as well. From where the question came, Casey had no clue. She wouldn't worry about that...not right now. This could be too important. "Does she have red hair?"

Images began to flash, she closed her eyes, allowing the Marine to guide her through the passageway. Annika! The images were of Annika...her face tear-stained, her violet eyes full of such heartache. Was it possible...? Casey wracked her mind for a feature that Annika couldn't disguise, to determine if this 'Myst' was indeed her psychic friend. The images danced in her mind again. Well, duh! "Does she have violet eyes?"

Oakey had remained silent, but very nearby. "Oakey, can you sense Annika?"

"Backdoor bypass, I guess." And Casey had absolutely no idea what that meant, as soon as she heard the words echo in her own ears. At least, she thought somewhat amusedly, she'd heard it! There was a shift in the child's emotions.

"You're the tree that made Myst cry," Sachee accused. "Cry a lot."

"We'd like to apologize to Myst," Casey interjected. If this little girl was with Annika, they didn't have time to get into a discussion of what had happened, or why. "Can you tell us where your home is?"

"Don't suppose you know the coordinates of where your ship is?" Casey asked hopefully.

"Yes."

"Thank you, Sachee."

There was another 'vibration'; the seer and the tree felt the connection waver again.

"Wait, don't let go!" She was so intent on holding onto the tiny presence that she didn't even hear the elevator doors open. Nor did she see Ferretti step into the corridor.

But the presence of the young psychic disappeared. Casey had stopped walking, and the Marines stood staring at her. She suddenly realized that everything she had said, these men had heard, because she'd been inadvertently speaking out loud as well as 'thinking' her comments to her two unseen companions. They had not, however, been privy to the comments made by the other 'participants' of the conversation. "What, you've never talked to a tree and a little girl in your head before?"

The two men shared yet another look of bewilderment.

Even Ferretti was giving her an odd look, now that she had noticed his arrival. "Change of plan, Pixie Chick. Hammond wants to see you."

Well, it's about damned time, she thought, somewhat petulantly. She'd asked to see the general...and rather nicely, too, given the circumstances at that particular moment...when she'd first arrived in this reality.

Ferretti shoved his hands into his pockets. Obviously a signal to his men, because they immediately dropped their hands, leaving her free to hurry toward the major.

The sooner she could speak with General Hammond, the sooner she could tell him where Annika was...or at least, where she would be. Find out just why the psychic had run in the first place. And possibly, she hoped, find a cure for Mini-Jack's problem. Deciding that it would be the...diplomatic...thing to do, Casey opened her mouth to offer her thanks. Ferretti's question cut off any gratitude she had been about to share.

"So am I hooked up with Doc Fraiser in your world?"

She had no idea how wide her eyes had become. Janet? With Ferretti? Oh, I don't friggin' think so! Not, Casey sighed silently, that Lou Ferretti wasn't a great guy. But as it was, there was just too damned much of that white light around Janet. She'd witnessed it the first time when she'd first seen Janet and her father together. Had assumed that it meant the two would soon be married. Now, however...She shook her head mentally. There had to be a reason that the white was still...there, and why it seemed to encompass Teal'c as well. She'd seen that when Janet and Teal'c had been taking a break in the commissary together. If that white glow around them meant what she thought it did...and there were three of them...oh hell, this was something she did not have time to think about! "Um...no."

"Well, let your Ferretti know that he doesn't know what he's missing."

Oh, sunny beaches! The comment might have been meant 'innocently'. But the questions that had been poking at her concerning her father and two best friends were now screaming to be recognized. She determinedly pushed them away.

Before she could utter a sound, Casey found herself standing in the infirmary...her senses whirling slightly. There were six faces she recognized. One woman who seemed familiar, if only by description. Another who could only be related to that familiar woman. All of them watching her, obviously taken aback at her...sudden...arrival.

Hoping that the Tollan or the Tegerian equipment might offer some help to the situation, the petite doctor had been experimenting with every known 'cure' she could bring to mind. If the cells were being attacked, was it like a virus? Or more like a bacteria? Could whatever was attacking the cells be stopped? Or was the degradation of the cells nothing more than a simple case of breakdown...of decay?

She checked her notes. Tried to push away the thought that so far, her results seemed to indicate the latter. And stopping the decay of cells just wasn't something she could do. Would the experts topside be able to find a way to counter the continuing degradation of Jack's cells before it was too late? Before his organs were too damaged to repair? She shook her head mentally. Too many questions...and no answers. And they were quickly running out of time.

Walter stepped into the infirmary. The only reason he visited the room was when it was time for his annual physical, or when there was an inoculation that the CMO determined all SGC personnel needed. He glanced around. Noted that the doctor was sitting beside some device that he'd never seen before. "Doctor Fraiser?"

Jumping slightly, Janet turned around. "Sergeant, what can I do for you?"

"General Hammond is escorting the president-"

"I know, they were here just a bit ago," Janet smiled.

"Yes, ma'am. He wasn't able to ask, but he'd like to know the progress on...um...Colonel O'Neill's...uh...situation," Walter said quietly.

She sighed. "None. I haven't heard from the experts in an hour or so. I could call them, but if they haven't called me, it's because they haven't found anything."

The Technical Sergeant nodded his understanding. "I'll inform the general."

The petite doctor turned back to her work. "Give me a clue," she whispered, closing her eyes briefly. "I have to help him!"

"Mrs. Jackson," Hammond said, giving a simple nod of his head, "I apologize for your treatment upon arrival in our reality."

Casey gave a tentative smile. Had barely stopped herself from offering her hand...it seemed that for some reason this particular General Hammond wasn't eager to touch her. "That's alright, sir. That would be pretty much SOP in my world too." Her gaze swept over the members of SG-1. Guessed in that moment that Daniel hadn't been the only one rendered unconscious. The smile she gave Daniel was wider. "It's good to see everyone's okay."

His smile in return was weak at best.

With her back to the infirmary doors, Casey didn't see them swing open as another person entered the now crowded room.

The archaeologist's face was a mask of concern as he took in at a glance that all of SG-1, not just his counterpart, were obvious patients. The concern deepened at the gauntness of his double's features. Recognized the look of pain in familiar blue eyes....he'd seen it in the mirror too many times for his liking. Something was definitely wrong. And that 'something' was no doubt the reason his Wife was here, and not where she should be. His frown turned to relief to see his wife standing in the middle of the room. Blue eyes widened slightly when he realized that two Nox were also present. "What the-?"

"It is an honor to meet thee, Protector Sapling. Apologies for the mental intrusion, but time is fleeting."