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The tension in the room was oppressive. General Carter/Selmak had returned. They acknowledged that Casey had been right about their spy, but said nothing more than that the situation had been…contained.

Then they'd told the team about the mission that had been planned, the mission that SG-1 would have learned about five months prior if they hadn't been rerouted to a future, alternate universe by that solar flare. Daniel had been chosen to serve as Lord Yu's lo'taur – if he agreed to the mission; he could speak Goa'uld fluently, and understood most of the nuances of the society. A drug contained in a ring would render the Goa'uld incapable of discerning the difference between the Tau'ri and Jarren, his true lo'taur. Any other Goa'uld, or Jaffa, or even slaves who questioned his identity would respond the same way when touched by the tiny needle imbedded in the stone of the ring.

The goal of that mission had been the complete annihilation of the Goa'uld leadership. The System Lords, seeking an alliance against an old and quickly rising foe, had planned a meeting. Fighting had broken out between three of the Goa'uld, however, and it seemed that any such alliance had been put on hold for the foreseeable future. The Tok'ra had learned that there was still going to be a meeting between Osiris, Yu, and Bastet. The Tok'ra were convinced that the three were plotting to overthrow the others. Which they wanted to encourage. And since Osiris was known to be working for Anubis, keeping an eye on that particular Goa'uld was top priority; it would allow the Tok'ra, and the Tau'ri, advance warning of any moves Anubis made. So, once again the Tok'ra Council sought Daniel's assistance. Yu was the only Goa'uld they had not been able to get a spy close to. As lo'taur, Daniel would be able to get close enough plant a Tok'ra device that would render Yu susceptible to suggestion. And that suggestion was to overthrow the other System Lords as quickly as possible. There was also a drug that could achieve the same results, but it was much more difficult to use the drug, especially in the position Daniel was going to be in. He could, however, as lo'taur, subtly encourage the Goa'uld in the direction they wanted him to go.

Daniel frowned. "This could change everything," he said slowly.

"Yes, Doctor Jackson, it could," Selmak agreed. "If these three manage to control, or better yet, defeat and kill any or all of the others, they themselves would be easy enough to contain. We know that Osiris is working for Anubis. Our spy has heard his name mentioned several times. It was believed that he was dead, but apparently that report was in error. We believe he was defeated in battle, to the point that he was forced to flee, and remain hidden as he rebuilt his fleet and his holdings. If Anubis is pulling in System Lords to work for him, he's not as powerful as he wishes the other Goa'uld to think. He's using the resources of those sworn to serve him."

"Wait a minute," Jack said. "If we let those three knock out the others, won't that just give Anubis the chance to waltz in and take over everything…and make him stronger than we can deal with?"

Selmak smiled. "If Yu, Osiris, and Bastet succeed, they will then band together against Anubis. Osiris would be especially willing to fight him, an attempt to throw of the yoke of servility to him."

"And then we're left facing three very powerful Goa'uld," Daniel muttered.

"Minor System Lords are always waiting in the wings to advance in strength and power. Even if the three allied Goa'uld defeated everyone of the others, within a few weeks time, those defeated Goa'uld would be replaced," Selmak argued. "By inexperienced, overly confident Goa'uld. Who wouldn't hesitate to knock down the three most powerful in whatever way possible, including a temporary alliance."

Casey smiled. "Then we just come in behind them, pop them, and clean up. The more planets, the more systems freed from Goa'uld tyranny will make getting resources, slaves, even food more difficult," she said, 'seeing' what the Tok'ra was trying to explain.

"Exactly!" Jacob Carter grinned.

"How long?" Daniel asked, glancing at his Wife.

"Not more than a week," Jacob replied. "You'll be gone a few days at the most."

He hesitated. He'd already 'tested' the serum that Janet and Sam had synthesized. He'd used it while Casey had been on her period. It kept him from getting the shakes, from getting irritable. He could certainly tell the difference, the 'high' didn't seem as…pleasant…as when he was partaking of that sweet, sweet honey. It certainly wasn't as enjoyable. But it was enough to help him avoid withdrawal. Being away from her wouldn't be a problem. He wouldn't like it, but he'd survive it. And as Selmak had pointed out earlier in the meeting, this was possibly the only time that circumstances would align to allow the allies to deliver a damaging, possibly fatal blow to the Goa'uld Empire. There might never be another chance like this one. "I'll do it," he said quietly.

Casey's eyes fell to her hands. Her fingers were laced together, pressed tightly against one another until the knuckles were white. She hated this! She could sense that something was going to go wrong. She had no details. And just offering a vague sense of misgiving was not enough to stop a mission this important.

General Hammond watched the young woman. He could sense her uneasiness. Had no idea how much was simply the love and worry of a wife for her husband. "I'd prefer that Mrs. Jackson take a look at the proposal, and the information that you have," he said quietly.

Selmak nodded. "Of course." She gave a data crystal to Sam.

The young blonde stood and followed her best friend and Husband to the computer terminal. Daniel quietly read the intelligence reports, and the outlined plan. He watched her carefully. Her eyes were full of worry, but she said nothing. Finally, she shook her head.

"I'm nervous about this," she admitted. "But that could be due to nothing more than the fact I'm not crazy about Daniel doing this. I don't 'see' anything…bad. But I do suggest that everyone involved be prepared for a bad turn at any given moment."

"Perhaps you can…look…again, before the mission is undertaken," Selmak suggested.

She nodded. Refused to meet anyone's eyes. Such a bad feeling about this! But why? What was preventing her from seeing any details? When she did a 'search' with the mission folders for the SGC, she could often see distinct events, or possible events. This was so damned…murky! She had no idea if the fact that the intel was alien in nature had anything to do with her sight, or lack thereof, on this particular mission. She bit back a sigh. More than likely what she'd said to the people sitting around her was the reason for her misgivings. She didn't want Daniel going on this mission, where he'd be literally alone among the enemy.

"Well, then, I think we have a go," General Hammond said. "Doctor Jackson, take the information that Jacob and Selmak have provided and study it carefully."

Daniel nodded.

"When do you want to leave?" the general asked the Tok'ra.

"We would like to leave tomorrow evening," was the quiet reply.

Casey bit back the remark that had been on her lips. Finally, after what seemed an eternity, Candy Johnson had called them. They were to sign the final papers and collect the keys to the house tomorrow afternoon. She had a feeling that it wasn't going to happen. And she didn't know what the result would be if those papers weren't signed right away.

"Very well. I'm keeping SG-1 on standby, just in case," Hammond said.

The team members nodded.

"If that's all," the general said, looking at Jacob Carter, who nodded slightly. "Very well. Dismissed."

She watched as Daniel gathered the notes he'd taken, and the two data crystals. He was going to be extremely busy. She sighed, and followed Teal'c and Sam into the corridor.

"Casey, are you all right?" Sam asked softly.

"I don't know," the young woman admitted. "I have a bad feeling about this, but I can't 'see' anything, so I can only assume that it's my personal feelings that are influencing what I feel."

The blonde major nodded. "If you're still having those bad feelings tomorrow, maybe you should tell General Hammond."

Casey nodded. "I will," she promised. She looked up at Teal'c. "I guess we should finish up that work out, shouldn't we?"

"Indeed," the large man replied, bowing his head toward her slightly. He was concerned about the fear that he could see lurking in the depths of those green eyes. He would speak to Daniel Jackson concerning the matter. If anyone should speak to Casey about her feelings, it was her husband.

A   A   A   A   A   A

Daniel frowned as he went over the list of duties. Geez, I'll have to do everything but wipe the damned Goa'uld's ass for him! Wait, better check to make sure…nope, that isn't on the list! According to the report, he'd be expected to bathe and dress Yu. Instructions on what was expected, how to wind the cloth that was worn as an undergarment…he tossed the papers onto his desk. This was not what he'd expected! The frown deepened until he read farther. It seemed that during 'negotiations' with other Goa'uld, Yu wore his regular robes, but sans underwear, thus saving nearly an hour each time he dressed. Apparently the snake didn't trust the others not to attack him while he was having his diaper wound! Thank god for twisted paranoia, he thought, heaving an audible sigh.

"Hey, Daniel," Jack said, knocking on the door.

"Hey, Jack," he muttered, not bothering to look up.

"Lot to learn?"

"Oh yeah." There was no way in hell that he was going to let Jack know just what all being a lo'taur entailed. In fact, as soon as he'd committed this stuff to memory, he was shredding it. In the 'confetti' shredder!

"Look, Danny, if you don't want to do this, you don't have to," Jack said quietly.

Daniel looked up.

"General Hammond and I agree that yeah, it sounds great, looks good on paper, but the chances of something going wrong are pretty high, and you being alone isn't conducive to making me happy," the gray haired man said. "The fact that Casey is spooked by all of this has the general jumpy."

"Casey said it's just because she doesn’t want me to go. And Jacob will be in a cloaked ship right on top of Yu's ha'tak," he replied.

"Yeah. And he'll be able to ring you up from anywhere if something goes wrong," Jack snorted.

"Look, I know this is risky, but…" he shook his head. He refused to acknowledge the fact that he was hoping to see Osiris, hoping to be able to speak to him, and perhaps get through to Sarah. And if possible, save the woman he'd once cared for deeply. He'd failed Sha're. Maybe, just maybe, he could save Sarah. An act that might give his tortured soul a bit of peace. "It's worth the risk, Jack. The more of these bastards we can take out, the better."

Brown eyes held blue ones for a moment. Jack sighed. "Yeah, I know, Danny. This particular group makes me damned nervous. And from what Jacob tells us about Anubis, we have to get rid of that bastard too."

Daniel nodded. "This is the way to do it." He moved the papers around, then looked up into the face of his best friend. "While I'm gone…"

"I'll take good care of her, Daniel," Jack promised softly. "I have tickets to a hockey game. That will give her something to do on Friday."

He nodded. "Thanks."

"You bet. Okay, I'm outa here so you can finish your homework." With a grin, the older man shoved his hands into his pockets and sauntered out the door.

With a grin of his own, Daniel went back to work.

A   A   A   A   A   A

Casey poured coffee into the mug, carried it back into the office, sat it on his desk. He didn't even look up. She smiled, and went back out to take care of the laundry she'd started as soon as they'd finished dinner. Daniel had been distracted all through the meal. She knew that he had a lot to think about, a myriad of details to memorize in order to take the place of Yu's lo'taur. She still felt grave misgivings about the mission, but continued to put it down to nothing more than her own personal displeasure at Daniel being away from her for a week, and alone on a Goa'uld ship on top of that. Jack had promised her that Jacob Carter/Selmak would be right there if Daniel needed anything.

When she'd folded the towels, she tossed a load of sheets into the washer. Last night they'd made love for almost four hours, Daniel had sent her soaring no less than a dozen times, and as usual, a large wet spot had been the result. A vinyl cover prevented a need for the mattress to be allowed to dry out, and two extra mattress pads made it possible to remake the bed immediately after stripping it. When the washer was agitating, she grabbed her newest book, "Jungle Lover", and slipped into the office. She curled up on the chair and read quietly as Daniel worked, content to simply be in the same room with him.

It was almost three am when Daniel finally closed the file. He groaned when he glanced at his watch. Four hours of sleep. Shit! Well, maybe he could get a nap in his quarters sometime before he had to leave with Jacob. He smiled when he realized that Casey was asleep, curled up in the chair beside his desk. He pulled her book from her hand, laughed quietly at the title, then scooped her into his arms. His lips pressed against her forehead. He was leaving tomorrow, and he was going to be gone for a week. He didn't think that she'd mind if he woke her up. He wanted to hold her, make love to her before he left. Right now would be the only opportunity they'd have.

"Daniel?" she asked sleepily, her fingers pushing through his hair as he began to suckle on the breasts he'd exposed when he'd taken the flannel pajamas off her.

"I need to hold you, Angel," he whispered.

"I'm right here, Daniel. Whatever you want, whatever you need," she whispered in reply.

She smelled good. She tasted good. Her skin felt like satin beneath his fingertips. He moaned softly as he took as much of that delectable breast into his mouth as he could, then pulled away so that he could tease the hard nipple with the tip of his tongue. Her gasp urged him on, and he continued to make love to his beauties until she was writhing beneath him.

The man should be shot for teasing her the way he did! But, oh, what he could do for her! Her back arched farther off of the bed as he continued to move his mouth from one taut nipple to the other. His fingers were already caressing her belly, moving slowly down toward the apex of her thighs. "Let me taste you," she begged softly.

With a shiver, he shifted until he was positioned above her, lowered his hips slowly; at the same time he lowered his head and began to feast on that sweet, succulent flesh between those sexy legs. He gasped when her mouth closed around him, took him deep and began working his throbbing flesh, her hand caressing him just as skillfully as her tongue. He shoved his tongue into her warm well, lapped up the honey that flowed, felt the response in his own body from his head to his toes.

She tipped her head farther back, took more of that magnificent erection into her mouth, continued to work her tongue around and over him. It was becoming difficult to stay focused on what she was doing; his mouth, and tongue and lips and fingers were taking her ever higher. Oh, god it felt so good when he did…that! She moaned softly when his tongue began to dance over her swollen, aching clit.

Sweet Jesus! If she did that again, it would be all over! Her hips were moving up and down, and he was barely aware of the fact that his own hips were moving him in and out of that hot, sweet mouth. He concentrated on that swollen bundle of nerves, teasing it with his tongue as his fingers moved in and out of her. His arm was pressed against her thigh, he felt the quivers just seconds before that whimper reverberated around his cock. Goddamn! He was lapping at the honey that flowed from her as her well contracted around his fingers, his own orgasm making his body shake as he poured his love down her throat.

He'd barely stopped throbbing when he pulled away from her. Not satisfied that he was finished, she followed his hips, licked him clean before allowing him to pull her onto his chest. She crossed her arms and looked up at him. "Since you have to leave tomorrow evening, I think you should sleep in."

"I can't, Angel," he replied, glancing at the clock. Three forty-five.

"Yes, you can. If you go into this already exhausted, the chances of slipping up are much greater."

She had a damned good point. "I suppose you'll call in for me?"

"I suppose so," she replied, just before she slid up and began to kiss him.

He gave himself up to her kiss, taking the comfort he needed from her as much as he gave her the love that he felt. He wrapped his arms around her, held her tightly.

She still hadn't been able to sit down and spend a day just kissing him. It was going to happen. Maybe they'd take a day off. Then they'd just sit and kiss. Right, her brain taunted her. It only takes a few minutes of his kisses to have you ready to ride him until you're too sore to walk! True, she admitted. But oh, she wanted to try!

There wasn't a more passionate, incredible woman on the face of the planet. On any planet! She kissed with her entire body, pressing close to him, her hands moving up and down his arms and sides, up to caress his jaw, then back down to his hands, her lips and tongue moving gently against his, then demanding, then giving back everything she'd taken. The taste of her was enough to have his body hard and aching again.

Oh yeah, this was what she liked! She let her tongue move against his, stroked him, tasted him, touched him, then pulled away, letting him take control for a few minutes, before she demanded to taste him once again. She could feel him harden beneath her. Gloried in the fact that it was in response to her attention that the anaconda was ready for action once again. She moved her hips slightly, pressing his erection into his belly.

The heat from that sweet little twat against his aching flesh was enough to make him groan with need. He rolled them over, aimed for paradise and slid into the warmth of her body. Oh, hell yes! Hot and tight and made just for him! He pushed deep, pulled out until he was barely inside her, pushed deep once again. He set up a steady rhythm, her hips meeting his each step of the way.

She loved how he filled her, how he stretched her to take him each time he entered her. She loved how full she felt with him inside her, how complete she felt when their bodies merged to become one. She rocked her hips up to meet his, each step of their love dance bringing them both closer to the edge of the cliff. She gasped softly when he began to grind his hips against her every time he pushed deep. Oh yeah, that was doing something for her all right! She could feel that tingling sensation, felt it move up into her belly, before it centered deep inside. "Oh, god, I'm gonna come!" she whispered.

"That's it, Angel, give it to me," he whispered in return. His heart sang with her as her aria of love filled the air around them. His mouth locked on that tender flesh behind her ear as he began to drive into her; harder, faster, deeper. He could feel it…white hot and incredible, moving up and down his spine, through his belly and up into his throbbing cock. He tossed his head back and cried out her name as he began to fill her, his shaft pulsing against the still quivering walls of her sweet well. She was wrapped around him, holding him tightly. He kissed her, then rolled to his back, keeping her with him. Sleep overtook both of them almost immediately.

A   A   A   A   A   A

No one said a word when they finally arrived in the mountain just before eleven a.m. Daniel sequestered himself in his office as soon as he arrived, going over and over the notes until he was confident that he knew exactly how he was to behave, the duties that he'd be expected to perform. Jacob had let him know that the Council had contacted Selmak, and his mission could not last for more than four days. Evidently Osiris was expected to report to Anubis at that time. A Tok'ra spy had infiltrated that Goa'uld's staff, and would accompany him to the meeting.

Daniel couldn't say that he was at all upset about the fact that the mission had just been shortened. He'd still have to take along the serum. Three days without tasting his sweet Angel and he started getting damned grouchy. Four days and he started getting the shakes. He'd just had a 'fix' from her. He wished that he could slip away and make love to her once more before he had to leave.

He glanced up when he felt her presence. She was sitting quietly, just watching him. "Hey, Gorgeous," he said softly.

"Hey, Handsome," she replied, smiling at him.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing. Just looking at you," she responded.

There was worry in her eyes. "Case, is there anything we should talk about? Can you 'see' anything?"

She shook her head. "No, and that alone has me concerned. Be careful, please! I couldn't bear to lose you."

He stood up, walked over to the table where she sat, cross-legged. "You won't lose me, Case. I promise."

Casey wrapped her arms around his neck. "I'm just so scared," she whispered.

"Of what?"

"Losing you. I can't shake the feeling that I'm going to lose you." She shook her head. "I know you're Immortal. But…something is going to happen. I just can't see what, or when."

He frowned. He knew that the mission was going to be dangerous. She'd already admitted that her own feelings on the matter might be clouding her 'sight'. "Everything is going to be all right," he whispered, planting kisses along her jaw, down her throat. "I'll be back Monday morning at the latest."

"I know."

"I want you to go to that hockey game with Jack," he said quietly. "I don't want you sitting alone worrying."

She couldn't help but smile. "But it's okay to sit with our friends and worry?"

"Yep. You can all sit and worry about me together."

She giggled. "You're weird."

"Yeah, but you love me anyway."

"More than you'll ever know," she replied. "Don't forget that we have to sign those papers this afternoon."

"I won't. Are you still going to help Cassie with that project?"

"Yep. I should be going. I'll just take the bus."

"No, take the jeep. I'll have Jack take me up to the realtor's office in a little bit."

"I'll be back before five," she promised, letting him move away, sliding to her feet.

"I'll be waiting for you," he replied. He gave her another kiss before letting her walk away. "I love you," he said, just before she reached the door.

She turned around and smiled. "I love you." With a flutter of her fingers, she was gone.

An hour later Jacob hurried into the office. "Daniel, we have to leave now. Yu is getting ready to meet with Osiris and Bastet, and we have to get you on his ship before that happens."

Daniel frowned. "I have to sign some papers, we're buying a house-"

The older man shook his head. "I'm sorry, Daniel. We have to go. Now."

Jack was waiting in the 'gate room. "I'll tell her, Danny," he said, before the young man could say anything.

"The papers for the house…"

"I'll see to it that you can sign when you get back," Jack replied. He had a few strings he could pull, and he'd be more than willing to pull them for his best friend.

The young man nodded. "See you in a few days," he said.

"Yeah." Jack watched the young archaeologist walking up the ramp. "Daniel?"

"Yeah?"

"Be damned careful!"

Daniel smiled. "Always."

A   A   A   A   A   A

On the other side of town, posing for Cassie as she sketched, Casey shivered violently. Something was about to happen. Something very bad.

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