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The Amadeus Effect	By : NeenaVarscona Category: Stargate: SG-1 > General Views: 6242 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Stargate: SG1, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

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~~~~~
After a speedy breakfast, and armed with Jack�s permission, Daniel returned to the storage chamber, eager to get as many of the items catalogued as he could before the end of the day. Jack, Carter and Teal�c were planning to spend the day in a more detailed search of the village, to try and determine when and why the place had been abandoned.

Daniel truly hoped it would be a great day, and he attacked it with a vengeance. His plan of attack was to designate the door to the chamber as �twelve o�clock� and work his way around the room clockwise until he got back to the door. The huge pile in the middle of the room would have to wait until the next day, he thought, realising it was unrealistic to think he could finish the room�s perimeter in one day.

He was right, of course. Almost every object he picked up was fascinating and deserved hours of study. It took all his willpower to quickly catalogue each item and move on. And even working non-stop, he�d only managed to get to �two o�clock� by mid afternoon.

Daniel felt a prickly sweat forming on his brow. He went to wipe it off, but found there was nothing there�his skin wasn�t even warm to the touch. Daniel shrugged it off and went back to his work, but less than an hour later the prickling was back, and it was no longer confined to his forehead.

Daniel couldn�t simply shrug it off this time�there was obviously something wrong with him. But it was more of an annoyance than anything, and he wasn�t about to go whining to Jack just because he was coming down with the flu. So he kept going, trying to ignore the pins and needles that now blanketed his entire body, until finally, he had to admit that he was sick and needed to return to their camp.

By the time he reached the temple�s entrance, the prickling sensation was so strong it felt like he was walking on shards of glass, and the feel of his clothes against his skin was agonizing. As he stumbled out into the sunlight, Carter spotted him and rushed over in time to catch him as he collapsed.

�Daniel! What happened?� she asked as she guided him over to their campsite. She sat him gently onto the ground, the back of her hand testing his forehead for fever.

�Started feeling a little sick in there,� he stated simply.

�A little?� she asked incredulously.

Daniel ducked his head. �Alright�a lot sick.�

�Are you feeling any better now?� she asked.

Daniel was ready to come back with a sarcastic �oh yeah, feeling great�, when he suddenly realised that he was actually starting to feel better. �Yeah, actually, I am,� he replied. �Maybe it was something in the air down there.�

At that moment Jack and Teal�c arrived from their respective fact-finding missions.

�Hey there, campers,� Jack said, clapping his hands together enthusiastically. �Back so soon? Daniel�I thought Teal�c would have to knock you out and drag you from that room.�

�I, uh�well�I�� Daniel stumbled.

�Daniel was starting to feel sick in there, sir,� Sam said, coming to his rescue. She knew how much Daniel hated being considered a weak link�even if, as in this case, it was something he had no control over.

�I�m feeling okay now,� Daniel said in his defence. �I�m sure it�s nothing. In fact, I�m ready to go back in there.�

Jack�s deep brown eyes narrowed, studying Daniel carefully. �Uh-huh. You�re not going anywhere until you stop with the albino impersonation�you�re white as a sheet, Daniel.�

�Jack,� Daniel protested.

Jack held up his hand. �Aht! I don�t wanna hear it. Sit down. Relax. Have some food. And if I think you can manage it without passing out, I�ll let you go back in there after dinner. And not alone�I want Carter to go with you.�

Daniel was anything but grateful. He felt fine now, and he didn�t think sitting around uselessly for a couple of hours would make a difference. He hated being coddled�he was a grown man�he didn�t need a keeper. But what choice did he have? he thought miserably. If he gave Jack a hard time he would lose whatever chance he had of returning to the chamber after dinner.

�Fine,� Daniel grumbled, his blue eyes sharp with unspoken defiance.

�Good,� said Jack, giving him a hearty thump on the back.

In the end, Daniel had to admit Jack was right�he did feel a lot better after eating and relaxing for a while. The prickling hadn�t come back, and he felt completely normal again. Better than normal, actually�he felt rejuvenated.

Jack must have decided his pallor passed muster, because shortly after their meal was over he gave Daniel the green light� Provided he take Sam along to baby-sit.

Daniel was not going to make a fuss about it. After all, Jack had good reason to take precautions. Daniel just had to keep reminding himself that Jack�s order wasn�t a personal attack on his ability to go un-chaperoned. And if truth be told, he could really use Sam�s help anyway. He got her set up working on the pile in the centre of the room as he continued his work from the �two o�clock� position along the walls.

If Daniel had thought having Sam there would make the work go faster, he was wrong. With someone there to talk to and bounce ideas off, it was taking twice as long to get the cataloguing done.

And the pins and needles were starting to come back�

�Hey, Daniel, come and take a look at this�I�m picking up faint traces of energy from it,� said Sam, holding her gauge up to a gold-flecked Romanesque bust. �Any idea what it might be?�

Daniel tuned out the tickling-stabbing feeling and went over to see what Sam had found. He immediately recognised the statue as the one he�d had a staring contest with on his first exploration of the chamber, but he didn�t remember there being any writing on the bust. Actually, the only thing he really remembered about it was the eyes�there had been something odd about the eyes.

He studied it closely, but he couldn�t see anything unusual about it now. �Is it safe?� he asked.

Carter nodded. �The energy levels are extremely weak�not even high enough to power your watch�so yes, I�d say it�s safe.�

Daniel turned the statue towards the light and read the inscription out loud. �Amadeus. It means �God�s love� or �loved by the gods�, depending on historical context. Considering this is a Goa�uld trading post, it�s most likely �loved by the gods�.�

�So�this man wasn�t a Goa�uld?�

�Not likely. A Goa�uld wouldn�t take on a name that suggests subordination. More likely, this was a man whom the Goa�uld respected or admired, or who people believed was respected or admired by the Goa�uld. Or it could just be the guy�s name.� He shrugged again and swiped a hand over his face, trying to wipe away the prickling pain.

�Daniel?� asked Carter, as she took in his pasty complexion and pained expression.

�I�m fine, Sam.�

Carter just frowned at him and crossed her arms.

�Really. I�m fine,� he said, attempting to sound chipper. �Better get back to it�we�ve got a lot of ground to cover.�

He knew Sam didn�t believe him, and he also knew she�d be keeping a much closer eye on him, but he tried not to let that interfere with his work. But twenty minutes later it was the pain, not Sam, that finally forced him to admit defeat.

Daniel turned to find Sam still occupied with the statue, trying to figure out what its function was. He took a step towards her and got out a wheezy breath before crumpling to the floor. He had been so engrossed in his work that he hadn�t realised just how bad the pain had become.

He was aware of Sam kneeling over him, he heard her radio for help, but he was finding it hard to concentrate.

�Daniel, is it the same as last time?� asked Sam.

Daniel shook his head and forced his mouth to work. �Worse,� he managed to croak.

�Okay, Daniel, Teal�c�s coming, and the two of us will get you out of here.�

Daniel cracked his eyes open and looked up at her. �Are you�?�

�I�m fine,� she answered. �So far, at least. But I don�t think Colonel O�Neill will let either of us come back in here until it�s been tested for contamination and radiation.�

Daniel�s eyes fluttered shut and he could only answer her with a quick nod.

�What exactly are you feeling?� she asked.

�Pain,� Daniel bit out through clenched teeth. �Like I�m being stabbed with a hot poker.�

�Where?�

�Everywhere,� he gasped, drawing his knees up to his chest. �God, it hurts everywhere!�

Sam�s hands hovered over him, having no idea what to do for him. She didn�t even know what to say to him�this sort of thing had never been her strong suit. She felt a guilty relief when she heard Teal�c�s running footsteps echoing up the hallway towards them.

Teal�c appeared in the doorway, pausing briefly to scan the room for threats before entering. He soon came upon Captain Carter and Daniel Jackson on the floor in the centre of the chamber.

�Teal�c!� Carter called out. �We�ve got to get him out of here fast.�

Teal�c nodded and in one fluid motion he scooped Daniel off the floor. With the trembling man cradled in his arms, he ran from the room. Carter followed, close on his heels, and they made it out of the temple faster than she would have thought possible.

Jack was waiting at the campsite. He�d set up a cot near the fire and was pacing anxiously, ready to radio SG-2 for assistance if needed. When he saw Teal�c coming out of the twilit shadows of the temple with Daniel in his arms, Jack feared the worst.

�How bad is he?� he asked Carter as Teal�c lay the archaeologist down gently onto the cot.

�Bad, sir,� answered Sam.

Jack�s lips drew into a hard line, and he crouched down next to Daniel. The other man squinted up at him, his face drawn and ghostly pale. Jack patted his shoulder. �Hang in there, Danny. It�s getting dark, but if we have to we�ll figure out a way to get you back to the Stargate tonight.�

Daniel blinked up at him, looking perplexed. �Actually�I�m starting to feel better.� And he did look better.

Sam and Jack exchanged glances over him.

�It�s possible whatever is causing Daniel to feel sick needs to be in close proximity to have an effect on him,� Sam suggested.

�That would appear to be the case,� Teal�c agreed, marking the noticeable change in Daniel�s condition.

�Alright,� said Jack, turning his attention over to Daniel. �I�m keeping a close eye on you tonight. Any indication that you�re getting worse instead of better and we�re outta here. And under no circumstances is anyone to set foot in that temple again.�

�Jack�� said Daniel.

�No arguments,� Jack said, anticipating Daniel�s next comment. �I�m not risking anyone else getting sick in there.�

�Jack��

�No! What did I just say?�

�Hear me out,� Daniel persisted. �I�ve barely scratched the surface in there, and already I�ve come across things that would keep our scientists on the payroll for decades. You can�t just lock it up and throw away the key.�

�That�ll be up to Hammond to decide,� said Jack. �But you know he�s not going to give the green light until he�s absolutely sure it�s safe.�

Daniel knew Jack was right�it would be irresponsible to send anyone into the temple until they discovered what it was that had made him sick. It didn�t change the fact that he was watching the opportunity of a lifetime slip between his fingers.

Jack took Daniel�s silence as grudging assent. He knew how much this mission meant to him, and he wished he could give Daniel what he wanted�but he had no choice but to be resolute on this one.

�Okay, everyone�that�s a wrap,� said Jack, clapping his hands together. �I�ll radio SG-2 and fill them in on the situation. Teal�c, it�s your turn to cook, I believe. Tonight it�s dinner and lights out�we have an early start tomorrow.�

�Yes, sir,� said Carter, and she added a log to their fire. Teal�c nodded in reply, and Daniel, still enjoying a bit of a sulk over his lost treasure, simply sat on his fireside cot and stared into the glowing embers.

Daniel was unusually quiet over dinner, and Jack knew there would be an argument once they were alone together in their tent. He was right. As soon as Daniel came in from taking first watch, he started in on his side of the argument as if there had been no interruption. Only, now he�d had thinking time to strengthen his case.

�Jack, I need to go back in there,� he said, shooting out the words at a rapid-fire pace. �Now before you go all Air Force on me, just listen to what I have to say. I�ve already been exposed to whatever it is that was making me sick�if I go in alone, you won�t be putting anyone else at risk. And I can come back out at the first indication that the symptoms are returning. Please, Jack�I�ve barely made a dent in my cataloguing.�

�Out of the question, Daniel,� Jack stated firmly. �The second time you went in there your symptoms were much worse than the first time. How do you know the next time you go in there you won�t collapse on the spot? It�s too risky.� Jack could almost see the wheels turning in Daniel�s brain as the younger man tried to come up with a rebuttal.

�At least let me go back and get my notebook,� Daniel pleaded at last.

�No, Daniel,� said Jack. �Nobody sets foot in that temple until it�s been cleared. And I swear, if you go sneaking back in there in the middle of the night, I will personally kick your ass from here to the Stargate�if you come out alive, that is.�

Daniel peered into Jack�s eyes, reading them the same way he read ancient texts�with an understanding that went deeper than mere surface translation. He quickly surmised that Jack was not going to budge on this. With a sigh and a shrug, Daniel admitted defeat. �Fine. But if General Hammond determines it�s safe, will you at least consider letting me go back in there?�

�I�ll consider it,� said Jack, but soon squashed Daniel�s triumphant smile by adding, �but I can�t see it happening. I think it�s best to err on the side of caution on this one, Daniel.�

In frustrated silence, Daniel shucked off his boots and climbed into his sleeping bag, giving his pillow a good punch.

Jack sighed. He hated these arguments�he hated feeling like the big, bad ogre, when he was just doing his job, and keeping Daniel alive in the process. He thought Daniel sometimes forgot they were on an alien planet when they went through the �gate. He�d wander off and talked to strangers like he was some kind of tourist in Mexico. Jack often wondered how a man as smart as Daniel could be so stupid when it came down to basic self-preservation. Still, Jack thought as he drifted off to sleep, at least Daniel was learning to trust him on these things.

~~~~~

The first warm rays of the morning sun filtered into their tent, dragging Jack out of a very peaceful sleep. Even before he could rub the crust out of his eyes, Jack sensed something was different. It took a full ten seconds for his sluggish waking brain figured out that the sleeping bag positions had changed. Daniel�s bag had somehow migrated over to Jack�s side of the tent, and the other man was now happily crowding him up against the wall of the tent.

Shrugging it off as unusual but unimportant, Jack elbowed Daniel in the ribs to get him to move. A displeased �Mmph,� was the only answer he received.

�Daniel,� Jack said, giving his friend another nudge.

�Five more minutes,� Daniel mumbled, tugging his sleeping bag up to his nose and burying his face in the pillow.

Jack had had every intention of being the hard-ass colonel and dragging him out of bed, but Daniel looked so warm and cosy that he caved. �Alright, you win. Five minutes�no more,� he said as he wriggled out of his own bag and crawled over the inert archaeologist.

Jack had barely settled in front of the spent campfire when Daniel appeared from their tent. Jack frowned. Not only had the other man gotten out of bed without the usual threats of violence, but he also looked�bubbly. And he hadn�t even had his morning coffee yet.

�Morning!� Daniel beamed at him, rubbing his hands together to warm them.

Suddenly, Jack caught on. �No.�

�No, it�s not morning?� Daniel asked, confused.

�No, you�re not going back in there. We discussed this last night,� Jack stated.

Now Daniel was looking really confused. �I know, Jack. I was there, remember?�

�Then what�s with the sunshine and daffodils routine?�

�What�can�t a person simply be in a good mood?�

�Not in my experience,� Jack replied.

�That�s just sad, Jack,� Daniel said, shaking his head as he folded his bandana to wear for the hike home.

�Whatever,� Jack answered. He stirred the ashes of the campfire, sparking a few embers to get the new kindling going.

They had breakfast and packed up camp in good time, and as they were hiking back to the �gate, Jack couldn�t help feeling unsettled. Not once had Daniel complained about leaving the temple behind. Plus, whenever he looked over at him, Jack got a cheerful smile in return�it didn�t track. Jack decided a little goading was in order.

�So, Danny�too bad about the temple, huh?� Okay, even Jack had to admit it was obvious what he was trying to do.

�Won�t work, Jack,� Daniel replied.

�Come on; you�re not the least bit�miffed?�

Daniel squinted at him, blinded partly by the bright sun in his eyes. �I was last night,� he admitted. �But you were right�it�s too risky to go back in without running some tests first.�

�Okay�who are you and where did you put the read Daniel?� asked Jack.

Daniel laughed�the kind of light-hearted laugh he seldom shared with anyone. The laugh Jack had been privileged to hear only a few times himself. �It�s me, Jack. I�m just�feeling good right now. Okay?�

Jack studied him with a level eye. Daniel seemed to be genuinely happy, and it had been a long time since he�d seen him like this. The last time he�d seen him this happy was back on Abydos before his wife had been taken by Apophis. He wasn�t about to spoil his mood. �Okay,� he agreed. �Hey�if Fraiser lets you out of the infirmary you wanna come over for dinner? You may not know it, but I make a damn fine stir fry.�

Daniel�s smile crinkled up his nose. �Sure, Jack. I�d love to.� Jack returned the smile, relieved that Daniel was feeling so much better, and already mentally planning for dinner.

~~~~~

That evening when they�d finally made it back to the SGC Gate Room, they were immediately set upon by Dr. Fraiser and her team. Hammond was there, too, working late to see them safely home. Once he was convinced that none of his people were in any immediate danger, he ordered SG-2 to write up their reports in the morning, and told SG-1 to meet him in the Briefing Room as soon as Dr. Fraiser had cleared them.

As it turned out, their examinations went smoothly and they all checked out normal. Fraiser had taken an extra two vials of blood from each of them for further testing, but as far as she could see, they were all in perfect health.

�Okay,� she said in her efficient way, tossing the last needle into the biohazard disposal. �You�re good to go.� As the entire team immediately jumped off their respective exam beds to leave, she corrected herself. �Sorry, Daniel�not you. I need you to stay here for observation. I don�t want you going home until I have all your test results back.�

Daniel gave Jack an apologetic look. �Guess we�ll have to do dinner some other night.�

�Any time,� said Jack, giving Daniel�s shoulder a pat before joining the rest of his team to see Hammond.

Daniel slumped back down onto his exam bed with a resigned sigh and watched Fraiser as she attached his file to her clipboard. It was time for twenty questions, and Daniel suppressed the urge to roll his eyes at her�couldn�t she see he was fine?

�Okay, Daniel�when exactly did you first start feeling ill?� she asked.

�It started the second time I went into the storage chamber. I�d been in there for a while, working by myself. It wasn�t bad at first�I thought I was coming down with the flu or something.�

�And the pain stopped when you left the temple?� asked Fraiser.

Daniel nodded, doing his best to be a good patient so he could get out of there faster. �I felt better almost as soon as I got back to camp.�

�So you haven�t felt any symptoms except when you were in the temple?�

�None. Actually, I�ve never felt better,� said Daniel with a smile. It faded when he realised Janet wasn�t buying it.

�Can you describe the pain?� Fraiser asked, having jotted a few notes down on her chart.

�It�s uh� Oh god,� Daniel muttered, his eyes growing wide. �It�s�it�s coming back!�

Janet lowered her clipboard and studied her patient with growing concern. �The pain is coming back?�

Daniel nodded, wrapping his arms around his waist and rocking back and forth on the bed. �It�s just like the last time.� He sucked in his breath in a deep hiss. �Oh God�it�s getting worse,� he said and turned pleading eyes up to Janet. �Do something�please!�

Fraiser dropped her clipboard onto the bed. �How bad is it, on a scale of one to ten?� she asked as she prepared a hypodermic full of Hydromorphone.

�Only a five now, but it�s getting worse. And the last time� It�s like a million paper cuts all over your body, and then it starts to burn.�

�Alright, hang on, Daniel,� she said. She quickly swabbed a patch on his arm and gave him the injection. �You should lie back�this stuff works pretty fast. It can also make you nauseas�let me know if you need something for that.�

Daniel complied and lay back on the bed, waiting for the painkiller to kick in. But after a few minutes the pain was getting worse instead of better. He wanted to tell Janet that it wasn�t working, but all that escaped his lips was a strangled groan.
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The Amadeus Effect