Title: Unto You This Night

Author: Kerri

Season/Category: Missing Scene from "Fallen." Part Two of the Broken Dreams; Shattered Memories series.

Season 7

Spoilers: Fallen, Cor-ai, Enemies

Pairing/Character: Teal'c/Daniel (friendship)

Summary: Daniel revisits Teal'c with more questions.

Rating: PG

**Note: While the term Tec'ma-te originally was used in the context of an honorable title, the show has shown us that it has various meanings and possibly various spellings. Here, it is used as a term of honor, not as a title or greeting.

 

Disclaimer: Stargate, Stargate SG-1 and all of its characters, titles, names, and back-story are the property of MGM/UA, Double Secret Productions, Gekko Productions, SciFi Channel, and Showtime/Viacom. All other characters, the story idea and the story itself are the sole property of the author. This story cannot be printed anywhere without the sole permission of the author.  Realize this is for entertainment purposes only; no financial gain or profit has been gained from this fiction. This story is not meant to be an infringement on the rights of the above-mentioned establishments

 

The soft sound of footsteps easily drew Teal'c from his meditation.

 

Slowly, he opened his eyes, cocking his head slightly, as the footfalls came closer and closer. Once, when he was able to kel'no'reem, such a minor distraction would not have been a distraction at all.  Now, even the faintest of noises roused him from his concentration.

 

          "You may enter, DanielJackson."

 

Teal'c watched as his door opened slightly, before Daniel Jackson's head poked through the narrow passage.

 

"Am I interrupting?" he asked guardedly, for the second time that night.

 

"You are not," Teal'c informed him, bowing his head as an offering of respect to the man.  "Please enter."

 

The other man nodded and carefully slipped into the room.  Teal'c eyed him studiously, wondering why his friend would feel compelled to use such caution.

 

"I couldn't sleep," Daniel Jackson said nervously, moving quietly through the room until he reached Teal'c's spare chair. "And then, I saw your light on…well, the lights…" His voice drifted as he stared at the candles.  "You mentioned something before…"

 

"Kel'no'reem."

 

"Yes, I'm sorry.  What is that, anyway?  Like some form of meditation?"

 

"You are correct," Teal'c stated.

 

"Why can't you do it anymore?"

 

Teal'c straightened his back, solidifying his posture. "As I stated earlier, once I started using tretonin, I have been unsuccessful in reaching kel'no'reem."

 

His friend nodded, but still appeared confused.  Had he not explained in the most simplest of terms?

 

"And you need all the candles for it?"

 

"The lighting provides the proper mood and tone for kel'no'reem."

 

"But you can't kel'no'reem anymore?"

 

"I cannot." Teal'c frowned, realizing he was having difficulty in following Daniel Jackson's reasoning.

 

"So, what are you going to do now?"

 

"I will continue to mediate to achieve a state close to kel'no'reem."

 

"What happens during kel'no'reem?"

 

Teal'c eyed him curiously, cocking his head slightly at the question.  "For what purpose do you ask, DanielJackson?"

 

The other man wrinkled his nose and pursed his lips.  Teal'c interpreted his gesture to mean he was thinking, as he had often done in the past.  "I don't know."  He rubbed his nose when Teal'c did not reply. "Well, I don't know, I just…I had some strange images."

 

Teal'c regarded him thoughtfully.  "Has some of your memory returned, DanielJackson?"

 

"No, well, no."  He shook his head. "But I was dreaming.  And I saw…Well, I just get the impression you do this often.  For important reasons."

 

Teal'c nodded once. "Indeed. When I carried a symbiote, it was necessary for my continued survival."

 

"I'm sorry.  Symbiote?"

 

He arched his eyebrow, surprised as his friend's gaze drifted to his abdomen. "Do you not recall, DanielJackson?" Teal'c asked, watching his friend patiently.

 

Daniel Jackson shook his head, his gaze still fixated on Teal'c. "No, just images…"

 

Teal'c frowned, noting the increase of discomfort in the man's face.

 

"Would it please you to discuss your dream, DanielJackson?"

 

He rubbed his hands together and started to nod, shifting nervously in his chair. "Uh, yeah, if you don't mind."

 

Teal'c smiled softly. Any way he could assist his friend, he would. "I do not," Teal'c informed him.

 

"Okay," Daniel Jackson looked down and swallowed hard. "I-I woke up feeling like I might have been in here before."

 

"As you were earlier this night," Teal'c stated.

 

"Yeah. No. I mean, before that."

 

Teal'c nodded. "Do you have memory of events that transpired in this room?"

 

Daniel Jackson shook his head. "No. Just a couple of images of you sitting there. Nothing specific."

 

"You frequented this room on many occasions."

 

"I did? Did it bother you?"

 

Teal'c smiled softly once again. "It did not."

 

"What did we used to do in here?"

 

Teal'c eyed him carefully. As much as he would enjoy stimulating his friend's memory, he still believed the best course of action would be for Daniel Jackson to remember by his own accord.

 

"DanielJackson, do you not believe it would be most beneficial for you to continue to wait for your memory to return?" Teal'c stated firmly.

 

His friend sighed, resting his palm on the small table. "I don't want to wait." He pursed his lips and gazed at Teal'c intently.  "You already told me about Oma Desala and Anubis. A little more information won't hurt."

 

Teal'c lifted his head and regarded Daniel Jackson thoughtfully. It appeared his friend's need for knowledge had remained intact.

 

"You often came to this room to discuss matters of great importance," Teal'c informed him, keeping his answers vague.

 

"Oh…" Teal'c watched with concern as the other man's voice drifted for a moment. "Sort of what I am doing right now?"

 

Teal'c nodded once. "That is correct, DanielJackson."

 

"I had another dream," he said suddenly.

 

Curious, Teal'c cocked his head once again, and arched his eyebrow. "Please continue."

 

Daniel Jackson fidgeted on the chair, as if he were uneasy, before readjusting his gaze onto Teal'c. "It started off just as some feelings. Then I started with images and more images."

 

"Of what did you dream?"

 

He seemed to hesitate. "This place.  Well, not 'this' place. Some other place. We were both there. I assume it was some other planet, actually."  He made a face, shaking his head as he gestured with his fingers to create long vertical lines in the air. "You had this paint…"

 

Teal'c stiffened, immediately recalling the time and place.

 

"The Cor-ai."

 

"The what?"

 

"Cor-ai.  It is similar to what you call a trial."

 

Daniel Jackson frowned. "Why were you on trial?" His frown deepened, a glaze coming over his eyes. "You've…What did you do?"

 

Teal'c frowned, feeling an unease overcome his body.  Yet, he remained where he was, allowing his friend a moment to gather himself.

 

"You've done…You've been trying to atone…" Daniel Jackson's voice trailed off as the color began to drain from his cheeks.

 

Then, his eyes started to roll back into his head.

 

Immediately, Teal'c rose, striding quickly to the seat that held his friend. "DanielJackson?  DanielJackson?" He placed a hand on his shoulder.

 

The man jerked at the touch, causing Teal'c to step away. "I'm okay," he said, bending over slightly to hold his head. "Sorry. Just a headache."

 

"Do you require medical attention?" Teal'c asked, concerned.

 

"No. No.  I'm fine." He shook his head, closing his eyes. Teal'c watched him carefully, fearing his friend might become unconscious. Daniel Jackson winced, squeezing his eyes shut.

 

"Have you been experiencing these headaches since your return?" Teal'c questioned, not willing to allow the subject to be dropped.

 

Daniel Jackson nodded and winced again. "Yeah."

 

"Perhaps Doctor Fraiser—"

 

"No, it's fine.  She's done what she can. I'm fine."

 

"Then perhaps you are exerting more effort to recall your memories than your body can manage," Teal'c offered.

 

He shrugged. "Doctor Frasier said something like that."

 

"She is usually correct in such matters."

 

His friend eyed him carefully, and for a moment, Teal'c thought he saw recognition in the man's eyes.  However, whatever he had seen was gone before Teal'c could assess it any further.

 

"No, really. I'm fine." He pressed his fingers to the bridge of his nose. "Just…" He licked his lips.

 

"Do you have need of refreshment?" Teal'c turned away, careful not to knock his candles, and retrieved a bottle of water.  He handed Daniel Jackson the bottle, offering the water to his friend gently.

 

Perhaps it had not been in Daniel Jackson's best interests to discuss his memories at this time.

 

"Thank you," he answered, accepting the water and drinking slowly. Carefully, he placed the bottle on the table. He did not speak for several minutes, but it heartened Teal'c to see the color once again returning to his face.

 

"I am feeling better. Thank you."

 

"Are you certain?"

 

Daniel Jackson nodded. "Yes, my head feels much clearer now."

 

His friend's eyes were no longer glassy, an observation that allowed Teal'c to relax.

 

"Then I am pleased as well."

 

The other man smiled. "You’re a good person, Teal'c, no matter what you did in your past."

 

Startled, Teal'c leaned closer to him. "Then you have memory…"

 

"No." He sighed. "No.  I wish that I did.  Only a few flashes. But it's mostly impressions.  I have some sensations." Daniel Jackson turned to face him, and there was a warmth in his eyes that brought a sense of ease to the Jaffa's mind. "I feel that you've done some things that have caused me pain, but I also feel that I forgave you long ago for them." He swallowed hard.  "I trust you."

 

Teal'c could not suppress the smile that came to his lips. These words were indeed good words to hear.  "It pleases me to hear you say that, DanielJackson."

 

He smiled softly in return.

 

"I have pledged my allegiance to this world," Teal'c informed him. "But I have also sworn to protect you and my friends here at the SGC."

 

"Thank you," he said nodding.  "I get that impression."

 

"I can only regret that I was unable to save you.  And I am unable to recall your memories for you," Teal'c stated mournfully.  "For this, I ask your forgiveness."

 

A slight frown touched Daniel Jackson's lips. "You're sorry? For this?"

 

"That is correct."

 

"Teal'c, you can't blame yourself for something like this." With a soft sigh, his friend tapped the table with his fingers. "Look, I'm frustrated.  I want to know why this happened.  I want to understand why this Oma Desala person did this or why I might have even done this.  But it's not your fault.  I know it is not your fault."

 

Teal'c bowed graciously.  His confession did much to relieve the strain on his heart, but did not erase the burden completely. Since the day he had sworn to protect Daniel Jackson, and to honor his name, Teal'c had held the job with the utmost importance. He was to blame for Sha're's kidnapping and death.  He was to blame for many of the situations where SG1 had been compromised. And now, known to no one, he felt a weakness overcoming him from use of the tretonin in place of his symbiote.  How was he to continue to protect Daniel Jackson if he was not as he once was?

 

"I'm sorry you can't kel'no'reem anymore," Daniel Jackson stated softly. "I know that is was important to you.  But you are a strong person. You'll be alright."

 

Teal'c nodded. "As are you.  I believe your memories shall return in time."

 

Of this, Teal'c was certain.

 

"I hope so.  I feel like they are just there in front of me, waiting for me to grab them."

 

"I believe you have made more progress than you realize." He smiled gently at his friend, recalling a troubled time in his own past when he had been brainwashed by Apophis.  It had been through the strength of his friends, and the teachings of Bra'tac that had helped him survive. "I am certain you will rise again."

 

"Thanks for the encouragement." He stood, rubbing his hands on his pants. "I-I should let you go." He smiled warmly at Teal'c and paused at the door.  He turned, facing him, and smiled again.  "Thank you for everything."

 

"Your presence is most welcome here," Teal'c stated, bowing.

 

He nodded, and began to slip back through the opening.

 

"DanielJackson!"

 

He paused, poking his head through once more. "Yes?"

 

Teal'c straightened and clasped his hands behind his back. "If you require my assistance in the future, you need not hesitate. Your presence is most welcome here," he stated again. "Always."

 

Another smile crept over his friend's face, a smile that Teal'c knew was a rarity in the man's past. Full, open, and peaceful.

 

"Thank you. Tek ma te, Teal'c."

 

"Tek ma—" Teal'c began to reply automatically. Then he froze, as the realization dawned on him. Speechless, he watched as Daniel Jackson closed the door behind him.

 

After a moment, a smile crept across the Jaffa's lips.

 

 

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