Alternate Reality Bytes 1

Jack And The Ripper

by Dragonfly Promises

URL: http://area52hkh.net/asd/dpromises/arbytes01.php
Summary: Jack is chief of detectives in a squad chasing down a serial killer. Who will be the next victim and who will help Jack catch the killer before he strikes again?

Detective First Grade Jack O'Neill stood in the drizzling rain with a contemplative look on his face. It was in the wee hours of the morning and he found himself staring at the dead body sprawled in the middle of the road. No attempt had been made to hide the body and in fact, it had apparently been dumped for them to find. Jack didn't approach too closely but instead maintained a decent distance that allowed him to gain insight without intruding on the evidence. He'd wait on the crime scene investigators and coroner for that. He squatted and surveyed the scene before him. It was hard to see in the darkness and the rain wasn't helping. He'd ordered some of his team to position their cars so they could use the headlights to illuminate the area until the CSI unit arrived with their own bag of tricks. It didn't help as much as it cast shadows. He studied the body, its pale form soaking wet not only from the rain but a large amount of blood covering the front of the man's torso. Jack's guess, the guy bled out. He could see the cuts to the face, the defensive wounds on the hands. Knew there were more extensive injuries underneath the clothing. Officially, he couldn't say for sure until the autopsy was performed but it appeared they had just found body number three. All victims apparently killed in the same manner by the same guy. He shook his head in disbelief. They had a damn serial killer on their hands.

Jack's knees started to ache and he groaned as he straightened up slowly. He had his team spread out, with Carter and Kawalsky canvassing an outer perimeter and Murray cordoning off the area. Jack looked around at the lonely stretch of road. No witnesses were going to be found here. He snorted. Not that you'd find any at a murder committed in the middle of downtown at high noon. People didn't want to get involved. Of course, he had to grudgingly admit, sometimes it was safer not to.

A feminine voice behind him quipped, "You and your team aren't stomping all over my crime scene, are ya Jack?"

Jack turned and smiled. "Hey, Doc. Nope. You know my kids know better."

Janet Frasier snorted at that and stepped forward. The chief crime scene investigator who also happened to double as coroner due to budget cuts frowned at what she saw and set her crime kit down. She surveyed the sight while slipping a pair of latex gloves on. "You first on scene, Jack?"

"No, actually a couple of uniforms were. They called us, we called you."

"Great." She turned to look behind her. "Siler, you ready for photos?"

"Yes, ma'am," came the reply from her quiet assistant. He stepped up and began taking shots of the body and the immediate surrounding area.

When Siler signaled he was done shooting the front of the body, Frasier stepped in to search the pockets for some identification. She pulled out a wallet and retrieved the license. "A Mister James Cotter. Age thirty-two. Local. Credit cards here, but no money." She handed the wallet up to Jack who had also pulled on a pair of protective gloves. He checked it out as well before slipping it into an evidence bag. "Obvious lacerations and bruising to the face, defensive wounds, ligature marks on the neck and wrists. Off-hand, looks just like the other two bodies we found. Okay, Jack. Help me roll him."

Jack moved in and assisted Frasier in turning the body over. "Got some head trauma here. Other than that, I'm not seeing anything remarkable. Looks like the front took the majority of the abuse." Frasier and Jack stepped back, pulling off their gloves, both lost in thought as they watched Siler take more photos. A second assistant appeared producing a body bag and gurney and a third began collecting the evidence bags that dotted the road where items had been located requiring further study.

Jack turned to the small red-haired woman and caught the pensive look on her face.

"What?"

She shook her head. "I won't be able to say until after the autopsy. Doctor Warner is the medical examiner who'll perform that part of the investigation. But Jack, if we do have a serial killer on our hands..."

"I know. Once the media gets wind of this it's gonna get crazy around here. And things could escalate."

"Or maybe we'll get lucky and they'll stop."

Jack shook his head. "No, Janet. Serial killers never stop. You know that. They just move on to different hunting grounds."

He could see the shiver run through her diminutive frame and was pretty sure it wasn't due to the cold, drizzling rain.

~~

Jack knocked on the open door to his lieutenant's office. George Hammond looked up from his desk and motioned his chief detective in.

"Whatcha got for me, Jack?"

"We've got a dead body, sir. On the surface, it's looking like two we've already come across."

Hammond's eyebrows rose. "You saying we have a serial on our hands, Jack?"

"Possibly sir. Just waiting on the autopsy to confirm."

Hammond pursed his lips. "Tell me what you need."

Jack sighed. He could always count on the older man to come through. "Sir, if this autopsy comes back like I suspect it will, we're gonna need to bring in a profiler. Contact somebody from the FBI maybe."

"Lou Feretti?"

"Yes, sir. Haven't talked to him in a while but he and Kawalsky have kept in touch. Last I heard he was doing well at Quantico."

"But Lou didn't go into profiling, did he?"

"No sir. But I'm hoping he knows someone who did and has enough pull to get them to come here."

"Okay. You have clearance to contact him. See what you can do."

~~

Lou Feretti was surprised to hear from his old pal Jack O'Neill. They had served on the force together for years before Feretti decided to move to higher ground and lost contact. Now Jack was here, on the phone, asking for help. Small world.

"Yeah, Jack. I know someone. The best in fact. But he's stepped back from active case investigation. Teaches instead."

"Well, maybe we can change his mind."

"I don't know, Jack. He can be pretty stubborn."

"I'll just have to use the old O'Neill charm."

"Better bring Carter or Murray with you if that's all you got."

"You're breakin' my heart!"

Feretti could hear the grin through the phone. "Okay, but don't say I didn't warn you."

"Natch. I'll be there tomorrow morning, bright and early."

"Don't make it too early, Jack. One thing our Daniel is not, is a morning person."

~~

Jack sat across the desk from Feretti reminiscing about old times and former acquaintances. Feretti asked about the squad, having served with most of them before his move to Quantico. In the years since they had last seen each other, Feretti saw the birth of another child while Jack had lost his son to a tragic hit and run accident. Jack's marriage disintegrated after that and the subsequent divorce was not surprising. Feretti studied his friend during their conversation. Jack was only in his forties, still the slim and trim ladies man but his hair was beginning to turn silver and Feretti wondered if the tragedy had anything to do with that. The one thing about Jack that hadn't changed was those penetrating chocolate brown eyes that saw a lot more than they revealed. After the conversation died down, Jack turned his attention to the business at hand.

"Okay, Lou. How about giving me a profile of your profiler."

"His name is Daniel Jackson. Doctor Daniel Jackson. Has a PHD, or is it two now? Young, in his thirties, orphaned as a child, passionate about his work. Some say too involved."

"Orphaned?"

"Yeah. He was about eight years old when his parents were murdered in their own home. The killer was never caught but since both parents were clinical psychologists, it was assumed that it was one of their patients gone wacko. The bodies were found by a cleaning lady the next morning. They found Daniel hiding in a closet, shivering and shaking, in total shock. Apparently, he was there when it happened and witnessed the whole thing. Everyone assumed the killer didn't know he was there since he was left alive."

"Oh, God." Jack could envision a small child, terrified at the slaughter that took place before him. "He didn't have any other family? Never gave a description of the killer?"

"Daniel's maternal grandfather was tracked down with great difficulty but the man refused to take the boy. Some lame excuse was given as to why he wouldn't. Daniel didn't talk for a long time afterwards. When he did, what he said about the murders didn't make much sense and as he got older, he must have blocked it from his mind. Self-survival became his preoccupation by then. He was placed in a series of foster homes, never adopted."

"A series of homes?"

Feretti shrugged. "You know how it is, Jack. Some of the foster homes are good, some not so good. Some downright abusive. He was a smart kid with a lot of trauma going on. He withdrew into himself but if he was pushed too far, he'd act out, have tantrums. He's been known to display some authority issues over the years. Even now. Some people don't deal well with that."

"It's beginning to sounds more like a perp's pedigree, Lou."

Feretti smiled. "Oh, he can be a handful at times. Kinda reminds me of someone else I know."

Jack's eyebrows rose in mock surprise. "I know you can't be talking about me."

"All joking aside, Jack. He's a good man. Decent and ethical. Not to mention the sharpest and smartest guy I have ever seen in the business. Or at least he was. Like I said, he's retired from active cases and just teaches nowadays."

Jack frowned. "Why?"

Feretti looked at the floor for a moment. "Do you remember the Leather and Lace murders a couple of years ago?"

"Vaguely. Was a serial killer who picked couples to torture before executing them. Tied the women up with lace, the men with leather. He died in a confrontation with agents trying to take him into custody, if I remember correctly."

Feretti nodded. "Sometimes the victims were actual couples. At other times, they were total strangers that the killer, for whatever warped reason, decided should be together. Daniel was primary agent on that case. Followed that trail for eight long agonizing months. He got close to the killer. Truth be told, they got inside each other's heads, haunted and taunted each other." Feretti looked away again. "Daniel paid the heavier price of the two."

"Meaning?"

Feretti ran a hand over his face before continuing. "Daniel's wife Sha're was the killer's last victim."

Jack's mouth dropped open. "Damn."

"It was bad, Jack. I was there when we found her." Feretti shook his head and his eyes misted over at the memory. He cleared his throat before continuing. "Naturally, Daniel took it hard. Blamed himself for letting the guy get in his head, letting the prick learn about him and how he might be vulnerable. After the funeral, he took a leave of absence. I thought he might not come back at all. But he finally did on one condition. That he no longer participate on active cases but – "

"Teach instead." Jack finished.

"Yeah."

Jack blew out a breath. "Well, I've come all this way already and brought copies of the case files. Maybe he'd just look at them briefly, give us an idea where to start. He doesn't have to be any more involved than that."

"You can ask him. He's on campus teaching today. In fact, his class should be wrapping up. Come with me and maybe we can catch the tail end."

~~

Jack followed Feretti into the small auditorium and they slipped into some seats in the back. He looked around the room at the fresh young faces intent on the words being spoken to them and turned his attention to the figure on the stage who was currently pointing at something on a large screen. The slender, young man with clean-cut, brown hair appeared casual and confident. His cream-colored sweater and tan chinos gave him a relaxed air and not at all the stuffy suit that Jack had expected. Occasionally, his long fingers slid up to his face to push his glasses back up and his brief smiles belied the harsh subject matter of the course. The students responded to the man, recognizing his serious and sobering transference of knowledge while at the same time appreciating his somewhat wry and sarcastic sense of humor. The class ended and a slow shuffle out the door began. A few of the students approached their teacher with after class questions and Jack chuckled to himself that most were of the female variety. Seemed there were groupies even in the FBI. What was even more amusing was that the young scholar seemed to be oblivious of the adoration. How good at observations could he be then, Jack mused.

Feretti and Jack made their way down to the lectern as the last student passed by them.

"Hey, Daniel."

Daniel looked up and flashed a smile. "Lou. Haven't seen you in a while." They shook hands. "What brings you to my class?" His glance flickered briefly over at Jack and then returned to Feretti.

"Daniel, this is Detective Jack O'Neill. Jack, meet Special Agent Daniel Jackson."

The two shook hands and exchanged pleasantries before Daniel turned back to Feretti.

"Lou?"

"Uh, this is the guy I told you about, Daniel. The cop who called about the serial."

Daniel's smile faded. "Lou we went over this." He stepped back towards the lectern and began stacking his papers together. "I'm sorry you came all this way, Detective. Lou really should have told you – "

"Jack. The name is Jack. And he did. Tell me, that is. But I need some help here. I'm not asking you to be active on the case. Just look at what I brought and give me a place to start. Then I'm outta here."

Daniel stopped shuffling papers and stared at Jack. The jeans and leather jacket wasn't something he'd expect a hot-shot, top cop to be wearing on a visit to the FBI. He found that amusing. And apparently this guy wasn't some hard ass on a power trip looking to play a game of 'my authority is bigger than yours'. He found the older man's dark eyes penetrating, evaluating. A strength and sincere honesty seemed to emanate from the cop and Daniel found himself feeling drawn to assist. He slowly moved away from the lectern back towards the two men, wrapping his arms around his chest in a self-hug. His piercing blue eyes locked onto Jack. "How many?"

"How many?"

"Bodies. That you've found."

"Three. So far." Jack studied the crossed arms and recognized the stance as defensive, self-protecting.

Daniel chewed at his lower lip and blinked a few times. "So, your guy is either new to the game or its old hat and he's just new to the neighborhood." He closed his eyes and sighed. Damn you, Lou. "Okay. Let's take this back to my office. I need coffee before we begin."

~~

Daniel opened the first file Jack handed him and began reading as he sipped on the coffee. He sat the cup down and reached for the other two files, opening them all and laying them side-by-side. He studied the photos of the crime scenes, looking for similarities as well as differences. He pulled the last available photos of the individuals when they were alive and compared the three.

"Typical of a serial. All three victims are similar in nature. All are male, Caucasian, approximate build and coloring close to the same. Two single, one separated from his wife, so essentially single as well. All lived alone, no roomies. A lawyer, a financial advisor, and commercial real estate agent. Well, the occupations are pretty diverse so it's a good bet he's not meeting them through their jobs."

"Socially?"

"Possibly." Daniel flipped through the pages. "Could be a gym, a park, or a grocery store for that matter. Or maybe they all received some kind of delivery recently." Daniel shrugged. "Until we learn to see them and understand them as he sees them we're going to be hard pressed to find that connection."

Jack leaned forward on the desk. "Well, we've already checked out their backgrounds. Only one belonged to a gym and none belonged to any social club or old school fraternity or group organization that we could find. All grew up in different neighborhoods and had no common acquaintances, including girlfriends. No volunteer work or charitable community contact between the three. No criminal records and no legal actions pending with any of them. The only thing connecting the three is they all worked downtown, their manner of deaths and the DNA evidence smeared on their bodies. No match in the system on that by the way."

Daniel studied the crime scene photos again and then looked at the pre-autopsy pictures. He looked from one to the other and back again. Jack noticed the frown beginning to form on the younger man's face.

"What?"

Daniel removed his glasses and rubbed at tired eyes. "Got bad news for you, Jack."

"That being?"

"You haven't found all the bodies yet."

Whatever he had expected the agent to say, it wasn't that. "Explain."

Daniel slipped his glasses back on and laid the pre-autopsy photos in front of Jack. "See these wounds here and these marks?"

Jack nodded. "Yeah."

"They're the same."

"I'd expect them to be with the same killer."

Daniel nodded. "Yes, but you're missing my point."

"Which is?"

"There is no deviation."

"Yeah? So? Therefore?"

Daniel stood up and took his cup over to the coffee maker for a refill. "The first time any person kills it's usually very messy. Lots of mistakes are made. A lot of people are caught because of that. Whether it can be proven in court is another matter but often people know who did it or have a decent idea at least because of the inexperience of the killer." He brought the carafe over to refill Jack's mug. "Some people never kill again. They were at the wrong place, wrong time. In an abusive situation, so on and so on." He returned the carafe to its stand. "Others kill as a survival thing, a way of life, particularly on the streets. Sometimes they kill more than once but it usually depends on what's at stake that particular day. No real pleasure is derived from their victim's demise other than some street status gained among peers or the removal of an obstacle to some warped goal."

"All murder is about power on some level, Daniel."

Daniel sat back down in his chair. "Very true. But the serial killer is different than the others. His is the ultimate power trip. He struggles to control not only his victim but himself as well." Daniel fixed his attention on the man seated before him. "A serial killer often studies his victims. Chooses them carefully. His decision to kill the first time has probably been after many years of trying to deny himself that very act. So, the first one is a learning experience. He doesn't know for sure what works or not. Most likely he's tested ideas out over the years on poor defenseless animals first but then he decides to graduate to people. He's got it planned out in his head but we all know life doesn't necessarily follow suit. From the first killing he learns what not to do again. So he takes that gained knowledge and seeks a second victim to practice his new insights on. He does this time and again until he finds a pattern, a way of selecting his victims and a dispatching of them that works for him. Once he's found that, he typically doesn't want to deviate. It's his signature. His creation."

"He never deviates ever?"

"I'm not saying that. I'm saying he doesn't want to abandon what has been a gratifying blueprint for him. But he can be influenced to deviate. If he finds his 'way' no longer works for some reason or he grows bored and unchallenged or it's no longer satisfying or an unexpected opportunity arises or - "

"Authorities get too close." Jack continued.

Daniel's face visibly paled and Jack regretted the words as soon as he spoke them. Silence filled the room as Daniel reached for his cup and took a few sips before continuing. "Yes. Sometimes that can be a factor. Most serials believe themselves to be smarter or more cunning than their fellow man. Any challenge to that self-image by authorities tends to create an adversarial relationship between him and his pursuers. In the more egotistical serial, a dangerous game of cat and mouse can ensue." Daniel drained the last of his coffee and looked into the empty cup. "For the cop, the most dangerous part is when you lose sight of who is the cat and who is the mouse at any given instant."

Jack sat in silence weighing the words and hearing the unspoken. Daniel was still blaming himself for his wife's death. "Things happen Daniel. Bad things to good people. You can't be on alert twenty-four seven."

A small, painful smile found its way to the agent's lips. "Yeah. Well, tell that to the victims."

Daniel removed his glasses again and pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to stem a headache from taking hold. "Jack, your guy had already established a pattern before he killed these three. They have no deviation. So you've got at least two more bodies out there that preceded these. Maybe more. And I'm thinking more."

Jack frowned. This was so not what he wanted to hear. "How do you figure more?"

"You didn't know you had a serial killer until this third victim, right?"

Jack nodded.

"The first you found in a parking lot, the second in a public park, the third in the middle of a road. Each more obvious than the last. His earlier victims have not been found. So he had a secret, undiscovered place for them. Another consistency about serials, Jack, is they tend to dump all their bodies in similar locals. It's part of the signature. But this one looks like he's changed his. The decision to make such a change indicates the usual scenario doesn't work anymore. Maybe it has become monotonous. For that to happen, he either has a very short attention span or he's been doing this a while." Daniel slipped his glasses back on. "To be blunt, he's no longer hiding his victims, he's displaying them."

Jack's lips thinned in grim realization. "So he truly wants us to find them."

Daniel nodded. "He's gotten bored, Jack. And he's just issued you and your team an invitation to come play."

~~

As he rode the elevator down, Jack replayed some of the information he and Daniel had gone over. The profile evolved into a white male, probably mid-forties, not necessarily single but spent time doing a lot of 'solitary activities', a good manipulator of people. His occupation allowed him access to a lot of diverse people but in an unassuming, non-threatening way. He saw them more than once, studied them before selecting. The victims were not afraid of him. He was most likely in some type of service industry role like a waiter in a restaurant or delivery man. He was that guy that blended into the background. The guy that was seen but never really seen. So far, based on the semen found on the victims torsos, the serial's sexual gratification had come from the sadistic nature of the murders themselves but Daniel warned Jack that could change. Probably in the form of post-mortem assault initially so the victim couldn't 'see' him until he gained comfort with that new twist. Then he'd graduate the rape to part of the torture itself where he wanted it to be all along. Still, the 'blueprint' wouldn't really alter much. His victim selection process and subsequent cruel dispatch was what fueled the excitement and that would continue to occur relatively unchanged.

Jack had been impressed by the younger man's observations and wished he'd change his mind about assisting on the case. But Daniel politely turned him down, handing Jack back his case files and a business card instead. "I'm available if you want to run ideas by me. I just can't be on the front lines anymore."

Jack nodded his understanding and gave Daniel one of his business cards as well. "If you're ever our way, drop in and I'll introduce you to the team. Of course, if you change your mind about this case...."

Daniel smiled softly. "No, I don't think so." They shook hands, said their goodbyes and Jack left Daniel's small office with his case files safely tucked back into his briefcase for the trip home.

With a ping signaling he had reached the ground floor, Jack exited the elevator, headed across the lobby and was almost out the door when he heard his name being called. He turned to find a breathless Daniel leaving the stairwell and racing up behind him. Jack's eyebrows rose in question at the sight.

Daniel appeared nervous, something Jack totally wasn't expecting. As the profiler slowed his approach, Jack saw him wipe sweaty palms along the sides of his pants legs and then fold his arms in on himself in that protective self-hug Jack had witnessed earlier. The young man came to stop in front of him, looking at the floor then at people passing by then finally at Jack himself.

"Daniel?" Jack prompted, curious at the man's indecisiveness.

"Jack, you have to be careful with this one. He's more dangerous than some of the others I've come across."

Jack frowned. "Okay, Daniel. Bad guy dangerous. Got that."

Jack saw blue eyes flash at him in brief anger. "Don't treat this lightly, Jack. When I tell you he is a bad guy among bad guys believe me, I know what I'm talking about. He's not afraid of you. And as far as you know, he has already seen you and summed you up as his game adversary. Just tell your people to be extra aware."

Jack felt an unsettling jolt at the idea that the killer had been anywhere near him or his kids. "Do you think he's watching my people?"

"I'm saying it's possible. This one doesn't do anything that's not planned, Jack. You're a sharp guy. Would you make such a bold game move like he has without having some kind of idea who your players were going to be or the level of challenge they would present?"

Jack's brow furrowed at the latest insight. Damn. Wait until Hammond heard that bit of news. He looked back to Daniel. "Thanks again for all your help, Daniel. Keep in touch, huh?"

Daniel nodded. "Take care, Jack Remember, he's a chameleon. He blends in the background and he'll be the last guy you'll expect. Make sure your people understand that and stay sharp. Good luck."

Jack nodded and moved to the exit as Daniel backed towards the elevators. Daniel pushed the elevator button and turned to watch Jack exit through the glass doors, heading down the sidewalk. He was surprised that he felt a loss as the man disappeared from sight. He liked Jack O'Neill and their fast-developed friendship was an unexpected but pleasant surprise for him. He had never let many people get close to him over the years and even less so since his wife's death. He just prayed his new-found friend had enough wits about him to keep himself alive.

~~

"Holy Hannah!" Detective Samantha Carter exclaimed after she heard Jack's summary of his trip to Quantico. The blue-eyed blonde looked around the conference table and saw similar stunned expressions on their faces.

Even Murray's normally impassive face showed surprise but his only verbal contribution was his ever-present catchall phrase, "Indeed."

Charlie Kawalsky, always the doubter, questioned the insight of their profiler. "How is it this FBI agent – Jackson, is it? - thinks we're now some kinda target for a looney who gets his rocks off slicing and dicing guys up?"

"Let's just say he has some first hand experience in that area." Jack retorted irritably. He didn't know why it bothered him that Kawlasky questioned Daniel's observations but it did.

Lieutenant Hammond turned to his chief detective. "Jack, I'm moving your other open cases over to Robert Makepeace and his team. For now, I want your priority and that of your entire crew, to be the apprehension of this offender."

"Yes, sir. I think we're all in agreement on that."

"Very well. Now, I have a meeting with upper brass to relay what you've come up with so far." Hammond stood up and looked around the table at each detective. "I know I don't have to stress to you the speed at which we need to clear this off the books nor the precautions you need to take to guarantee not only the safety of the public but of yourselves as well." Heads nodded in agreement. "Good. Now, I'll leave you to it."

After the lieutenant left the room, Jack looked around the table as each of his team members chattered away about the case, making their own observations, arguing the validity of others. Then he remembered the flash of anger in Daniel's eyes when he had chastised Jack for not taking his team's role in this serious enough. And maybe that was part of what was setting Jack on edge. That one or more of his people would fail to be vigilant enough and would end up victims of this lunatic themselves.

~~

The fourth body didn't appear until three weeks later. During that time, Jack had hoped the serial had been killed by some cosmic twist of fate but would have settled for him moving on to greener pastures elsewhere. Their investigations had hit brick wall after brick wall. There never were any witnesses in the abductions or the body dumps and no new insight had been gleaned from the forensics collected. Of course, since none of the locations were the primary crime scenes, the usefulness of those items was questionable anyway. And although Jack discovered the disturbing piece of information that roughly eighty serial killers were active across the United States at any given time, searches of law enforcement databases across the country had not turned up cases that had enough similar matches to be their guy. It looked like he was home grown.

Unfortunately, this time the victim was someone whose family was a little more noteworthy than the other three had been, Jack wryly noted. Apparently, daddy had contacts and junior had been vice president of the family business. Now the media knew what officials were trying to keep low-key until it could quietly be resolved. He thought the killer had just made a big mistake. He was typing his latest notes into the computer when his phone rang.

"O'Neill here."

"Hi, Jack, it's Daniel. Daniel Jackson. I see you've made the national news."

"Hey, Daniel. What can I say? Our guy made a big mistake with victim number four."

"Uhm, yeah. That's why I'm calling, Jack. I was afraid you might think that."

"Spit it out, Daniel."

"He's not satisfied with the progress you are making on his case. He picked this one very carefully. To force your hand, move you forward in the public eye. This was no mistake, Jack. Do you have the autopsy back on this one yet?"

Jack sat up. "No, why?"

"I think this is going to be the one where he begins to actually rape his victims instead of just jerking off on them."

"Post-mortem though, right?"

Silence met Jack. Then Daniel spoke quietly. "That may have changed."

"Why?" Jack rubbed at throbbing temples.

"He may be feeling more empowered by his continued allusiveness than previously before. After all, in his eyes he flagrantly threw down the gauntlet to authorities yet continued to remain free. That had to feed his ego, made him feel all powerful."

"So why start molesting now?"

"Well, now he's all powerful right? He's proven that to himself. In his mind he has given you all the clues you need to find him but you haven't come close. To him, that means he's become strong. So, he doesn't need that intermediate stage, that insecure testing of the waters, so to speak. He's strong enough to subject his victims to his sexual needs the way he has wanted to all along."

"Great. Just what I didn't want to hear."

"And that's not all, Jack. The fact that he has purposely provoked media involvement tells me that as much gratification as he receives from these killings, it's fast becoming not enough."

"Meaning?"

"Expect him to start pushing you, Jack. Taunting you, forcing your hand to respond in some way. Right now, he's running the show and he knows it."

Jack stared at the doodles he had drawn during their conversation. "For a guy that doesn't want to be front line in this case, you sure do seem to be vested, Daniel. Care to explain why?"

A laugh traveled down the line. "That's it, Jack. Question anybody and everybody. It's what will keep you alive. No, I'm not your killer. But I'd like to think I was your friend. You see, Jack, I make a lot of acquaintances everyday of my life but friends are few and far between. I'd like to think you wouldn't go and get yourself killed and deplete my short supply."

Jack chuckled. "Not my plan, Danny-boy. Of course, if you feel the need to come here and help out on the case – "

"Nah, I promised myself I wouldn't become involved."

"If this is any indication of your 'non-involvement', Daniel, I'd like to know what the hell you get up to when you are involved."

Hesitation came through the line. "No. No, I don't think you would."

"Aw, come on. Give me some insight into that great mind of yours. How is it you have caught so many of these guys in the past, huh? Tell me."

Silence met Jack. Then suddenly a very tight voice full of suppressed emotions growled into his ear. "You really want to know, Jack? I bait them. I get inside their heads. I pull out all the stops and turn the tables on them. I load my gun and go hunting. I push down who I am and what I am so that their world becomes my world. And I don't stop until they do. Sometimes I am literally face to face with them, letting them think I respect them and understand them." Jack could hear the strain in the younger man's voice.

"Daniel..."

"Unfortunately, the last time - as you may be aware - the gun blew up in my face. I got too close to see what was happening anymore and he got into my head. I screwed up and it cost me dearly. And in losing her, I lost the anchor that kept me sane in the face of the horrors I encountered in these monster's screwed up, twisted little pieces of reality."

"Daniel...."

"You see, I don't know when to pull back anymore, Jack. I have to leave that to other people now. I'm like a junkie. If I start getting involved, I can't walk away. My perspective gets screwed. There's nothing left to hold on to, nothing to reel me in and keep me grounded, nothing to help me walk away whole again after being touched by their corrosive presence. If I came there, it could so easily consume what's left of me. Can you understand that at all?"

Jack thought carefully before he spoke. "What I understand, Daniel, is that you've already gotten involved. You can pretend all you want but that first day you advised me, you started that particular ball rolling. And here you are again, on the phone, right now. It's already begun. You know what I'm saying is true."

"No," was the harsh response.

"Daniel...." Jack felt like he was arguing with a petulant child. "You know it's true."

There was a pause, then he heard a softer, "No."

"Daniel....." Jack waited for a response. "Daniel?"

"Maybe," whispered over the line.

"Uh-unh. Daniel. No maybes. You know."

Jack could hear a soft sigh, then a barely audible, "Yeah. I know."

"So stop standing at the back of the line and come help us catch the bastard. We'll be your anchors, Daniel. My kids and me."

"Kids?"

"My team. It's just what I call them."

"I see."

"And don't go readin' nothing into that."

"Wouldn't dream of it."

"Stop it."

"Stop what?"

"Analyzing me."

"Who said I was?"

"I can feel it. Coming through the phone line."

Daniel snickered. "Not sure what you're feeling, Jack, but I don't think it's coming through the phone."

Jack barked out a laugh, the previous tension between the two having eased off. After the laughter died down, Jack returned to the subject.

"So what's it going to be, Daniel? Coming here or not?"

"I'll think about it."

"Wow. You are one stubborn man, you know that?"

"And you are one very persistent one."

"Yeah. Well, I gotta be me."

Daniel chuckled. "I'll talk to you soon. Let you know what I decide."

"You do that. And even if you don't come here, keep in touch. Let me know how those groupies are doing."

"Groupies? What are you talking about, Jack?"

"Sheez, Daniel. I think it's time you and I had a little talk."

~~

Jack walked into the squad room and tossed his notepad onto his desk. He snagged his coffee mug and headed for the break-room. He had just returned from an interrogation of a possible witness to the last abduction. It was pretty generic and the witness was not close enough to be able to describe the suspect with any great detail. All he could say was that the man appeared to be helping the victim into a car as though the victim were ill. After that, nada. The vehicle belonged to the victim and no prints were left by the killer. They were going nowhere fast. And it didn't help any to have the media trying to scoop a story every time they turned around either. They had even gone so far as to name the killer The Ripper because he cut up his victims. Jack cringed at the moniker when he first saw it in the paper. Sometimes he thought the media helped create the monsters they claimed they wanted stopped.

Jack filled his cup and was taking his first sips when the office assistant, Walter Harriman, entered the room and informed him that a visitor had arrived to see Jack. They both headed back to the squad room where a man stood next to Jack's desk, holding his overcoat draped over one arm, surveying the case board in front of him.

"Daniel!" Jack grinned as Daniel turned around and smiled.

"Jack." Both extended hands for a welcome shake. It had been a several days since they last talked.

"So, decided to come slumming, huh?"

"Well, I have a friend that needs some help."

"He does, huh?"

Daniel shrugged. "So he keeps telling me."

Jack laughed. "Here have a seat. I see you've been eying our little case summary board. Not much to look at, huh?"

Daniel's eyes swept over the photos and numerous notations and knew the amount of work that had been done. "It's a lot, Jack. Every piece of evidence has gotten you one step closer even though it may not feel like it. He is leaving a trail and he is leaving us clues. It's just a matter of learning how to interpret them."

"And that's why you're here!"

Daniel smiled. "We'll see."

At that moment, Carter and Murray entered the office and Jack called them over. "Daniel, I'd like you to meet part of my team, Detectives Samantha Carter and Teal'c Murray. Guys, this is FBI agent Daniel Jackson, PhD. He sometimes answers to the name Doctor Jackson and occasionally 'hey you'."

Daniel laughed. "Don't take him too seriously. Daniel works just fine."

"And you can call me, Sam." Carter supplied.

Jack faked a wounded look. "Wow, Carter. You never said I could call you Sam."

"You're my boss. He's not." She replied smugly. "Besides, if you'd join us after work for happy hour a little more often......"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. I get it. I don't spend enough time with my kids outside the office."

"Indeed."

Daniel looked at the tall African-American who had just spoken. He was massive and his arms looked as though they could crush a suspect with little effort if he resisted arrest. Daniel didn't imagine many did. "Your first name – Teal'c, is it? That's a little unusual. Do you know the origin?"

"My ancestry extends back to a warrior tribe in a long forgotten region of the African continent. It is a family name handed down through many generations. It means 'tower of strength'."

"Then I would say you are aptly named." Daniel said with a smile.

The man inclined his head in acknowledgement with an amused twinkle in his eyes. He thought he might just like this new friend of O'Neill's.

"Hey, Daniel. I was about to walk over to the forensics lab. It's just a few blocks down the street. Want to join me?"

"Sure." Daniel slipped his coat back on as Jack reached for his leather jacket.

"Carter, let Hammond know where I've gone if he asks."

She nodded. "Nice to meet you, Daniel."

"Same here, Sam." He turned to Murray. "You never said what name you wished to be called."

"You may call me Teal'c."

Sam snickered and Jack gasped in exaggerated play-acting. "You see what I have to put up with, Daniel? My own team treats you, a total stranger, with more familiarity than they do me. Oh, how sharper than a serpents tooth...."

"Quoting Shakespeare, Jack? Can't be that bad." Daniel grinned as he shook his head.

Jack looked at Murray. "So I suppose you have a reason too? Not that I'm your boss, I hope!"

"You never asked."

Carter howled with laughter at Jack's surprised look. Daniel chuckled softly.

Jack grinned. "Nice one T. I owe you. Come on, Daniel. I can't stand the sideshow anymore. Let's hit the street."

~~

They stepped out of the station into the bright sunshine. The air was a little cool but pleasant. They strolled leisurely down the street towards the building that held the crime labs.

Daniel looked at Jack. "Uhm, don't take this the wrong way but couldn't you have just called the lab?"

Jack smiled. "Why yes, indeed, Daniel. But then I'd miss the opportunity to get some fresh air, stretch my legs, see the sun. Also, I tend to ask more questions when I am talking to a person face to face than over the phone and they seem to be more forthcoming with the info in person too. Don't know why that is exactly."

"Body language probably. You can tell a lot on a subconscious level about what a person is trying to convey."

Jack nodded. "Makes sense. Hey, I haven't had a chance to grab lunch, do you mind?" He gestured to the hotdog vendor on the corner.

Daniel shrugged and they walked over to the stand.

"Hot dog with everything. You want anything, Daniel?"

"Not really hungry. I'll take a coke though."

"Two cokes with that." The vendor supplied the cans and Jack tossed one to Daniel. "So we go get the lab results and maybe Frasier can give us some better news this time."

"Well, I think the clues are there, Jack. I really do. I'm pretty sure he wants you to track him down. It's a game to him. A deadly one but still a game."

Jack turned as the vendor tapped him on the arm and handed him the hotdog. "Hold this will ya, Daniel?" Jack handed him the food and drink as he dug out his wallet to pay. He pocketed his change and then turned back to Daniel to retrieve his lunch. He took a bite out of the hotdog and they started slowly walking again.

Daniel looked back as he heard coughing and saw the vendor with a napkin over his mouth. He looked at Jack. "Don't you wonder if eating off a cart is particularly a healthy thing?"

"Nope." Jack said around another bite of his meal. They had only taken a few steps when Kawalsky jogged across the street towards them.

"Hey, Kawalsky. Where ya been?"

"Over on Houston. Got a tip on the case. Turned out to be bogus. Some punk looking for a reward so he could shoot it up his arm." He eyed Daniel. "You the FBI guy?"

Daniel's eyebrows rose. "Yes. Daniel Jackson." He extended his hand.

Kawalsky studied him a moment before extending his. "Kawalsky, Charlie. You here to take over our serial case?"

"I'm not here to take over your case or step on anybody's toes. I'm just here to help advise in anyway I can."

Kawalsky nodded. "Okay then. Hey boss, did your interview pan out?"

Jack swallowed another bite of the hotdog and shook his head. "Nope. Nothing useful. Except the witness said the victim looked ill and needed help into the car. Not sure what that's about yet."

"This son of a bitch is just bustin' our chops all the way around. If I could just get my hands on him for a few minutes....."

"Yeah, you and everybody else. Head back to the squad. Carter and Teal'c could use your help on filtering out some phone tips that came in before ask we anybody to drop by for an interview."

"Sure thing, Jack. Uh, by the way, does Murray know you're calling him by his first name?"

Jack glared at the grinning man. "Begone with you! Oh, and by the way. The next time you head off to Timbuktu based on some cockamamie tip without letting anyone know, I'm soooo gonna kick your ass."

Kawalsky grinned wider and saluted Jack mockingly. "Yes, sir!"

"Take someone with you next time. No more solo acts, got it?"

"Got it."

Jack nodded and tossed his trash in the garbage can. "Daniel and I are headed over to forensics. We'll be back shortly."

Kawalsky nodded back and then turned and headed to the police station. Jack and Daniel resumed their walk, finishing off the last of their drinks as they did so. Daniel had noticed the small park in the center of the square when they had left headquarters and commented on it.

"Yeah, it's like an oasis, I suppose. People go there on their lunch breaks, play checkers, read a book. Nice with the trees and benches. Don't think I could ever get tired of seeing trees. Gives you a break from the craziness of what we deal with."

"Is that the same park where you found one of the bodies?"

Jack shook his head. "That was in a smaller park several blocks over. There are a number of very small 'parks' that dot the downtown area. They're mostly just a plot of grass with a bench or two sitting on it. No, the one in front of the precinct is the only one I'd really think qualified as a true park."

They entered the stately building and took an elevator to the Crime Scene Investigation department where they were ushered into Frasier's empty office.

Daniel sat down in a chair across from her desk but Jack wandered about the room, peering onto shelves, reading book titles, picking up items to ponder before returning them to their place. He picked up a skull off a stand on her credenza, holding it up and turning it around, looking through its eyes.

Daniel fidgeted. "Do you really think you should be playing with that?"

"Well I don't think he's gonna complain, Daniel." Jack said wryly. "Besides, I'm not playing, I'm studying."

The door opened and Jack quickly returned the skull to its holder and moved over to the second chair. Frasier looked up from the chart she was reading as she entered the room.

"Detective, I was just about to call you."

Jack smiled. "Thought I'd come for a visit. Introduce you to our FBI consultant, Daniel Jackson." He gestured next to him. "Daniel, meet our leading forensics expert, Janet Frasier."

Janet and Daniel shook hands and murmured hellos to each other. As she moved over to her desk, she noticed the credenza. "Jack, you been playing with my skull again?"

Jack gave her his most innocent look and Daniel had to look away to keep from laughing.

"So, doc. Whatcha got for me?"

"Found some fibers on this one. Looks to be carpet. Low-end."

Jack frowned. "Low-end?"

"Cheap in both quality and price."

"Not typically what someone would have in their home then?" Jack asked.

"Not if they cared about it. Good enough for office grade, I suppose."

"You didn't find these on any of the other victims?" Daniel looked at both of them.

"Not one." Frasier replied.

"So, it would seem he was killed somewhere different than the others." Daniel chewed at his lower lip.

Jack's eyebrow lifted. "An unexpected opportunity maybe?"

"Or maybe something happened and he didn't have access to his usual place so he had to make do elsewhere." Daniel replied thoughtfully.

"We thought we were going to be able to bring up a partial on the duct tape but it was too smudged."

"He left a print this time?" Daniel asked, surprised.

"Yeah, but it wasn't any good."

Daniel turned to face Jack. "That's the first indication that he didn't have latex gloves on the whole time."

"And that means what?"

"Any number of things. Maybe he was rushed, got sloppy. Maybe he was somewhere that he couldn't access the gloves. Maybe he's becoming too complacent, too smug. The point is, I don't think he consciously knows he did it. He has been so very careful up until now. If he's starting to make mistakes, Jack........."

"Then we've got his ass." Jack finished.

~~

They returned to the station and helped filter the leads on incoming calls. Time flew and it was late afternoon when Jack realized it was time to call it a day. It was also close to dinner time.

Jack turned to Daniel. "So, Daniel. You got dinner plans?"

Daniel shrugged. "Probably just something at the hotel."

"Why don't you come with me and the gang to O'Malley's? It's a great little pub with the best steaks in town." He raised his eyebrows up and down to emphasize just how good.

Daniel smiled. "Sounds great."

Jack leaned back in his chair and called around the corner. "Carter! Murray! Kawalsky! You guys about ready to close shop and head to O'Malley's?"

"Am I ever!" came Carter's reply.

"Indeed, O'Neill," supplied Murray.

"Gotta take a pass," Kawalsky spoke up as he was slipping on his jacket.

Jack frowned. "What's up?"

"One of my informants has called in with a lead. I think it's worth looking into."

"Want me to come with?"

"Nah, Jack. Go have fun at O'Malley's. I'm gonna take a uniform with me, name of Elliot."

"A rookie?"

Kawalsky smiled and shrugged. "Yeah, he's green but he's eager to learn. Wants to be a detective, asked me to be his mentor. I figure, 'why the hell not?'"

Jack frowned. "Well, be careful."

"Sure thing, Jack." He turned to leave and was met by the sudden appearance of a fresh eager young face.

"Ready to go, Detective Kawalsky?"

"Sure Elliott. You know the guys right?" He gestured towards the group.

"Yeah, good to see you all. I'm really honored you're letting me help. Sort of like my first official case." His face lit up with excitement as he spoke.

Kawalsky shook his head and gently shoved at the youth. "Enough with the hero worship, Elliot. Let's go." They waved at the group as they left the room. "Have a good time guys. I'll give you the low-down in the morning."

"Be careful!" Jack yelled at them as they disappeared from sight.

"Yes, mother!" came a distant reply.

~~

Dinner was exceptional and Jack was pleased that their out-of-town guest was suitably impressed. He hated when he told people something was good and then the one time they tried it, it was a miserable disappointment. Right now, he felt pretty smug. The meal was good, the conversation was good and for once, not about work. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves and even Murray laughed out loud at a couple of jokes. Something that Jack rarely heard the big man do.

It was a pleasant evening and they all seemed to fit so well together. Jack briefly wondered what it would be like if Daniel was part of their team permanently. He knew that was extremely unlikely but the idea felt right. He just wasn't sure how he'd approach him about it. Daniel was a law enforcement agent after all and maybe it was just a case of semantics. Agent versus Detective. How different could that really be?

Jack turned his attention back to the others and raised his beer in a toast. "To friends."

Three smiles echoed his and glasses clinked together. By the time the conversation started to die down, it was late in the evening. The group began to break up and Carter offered Murray a ride home. He accepted and after they paid their tabs, they left Jack and Daniel at the table.

Jack watched them leave and then asked Daniel, "So do you think they're seeing each other?"

Daniel raised a sleepy eyebrow. He was feeling very relaxed in his chair. "Sam and Teal'c? Don't know. Does it matter?"

"Not to me. Just there are regulations about co-workers on the same team."

"Frowned upon?"

"Yeah." Jack noticed the sleepy look on Daniel's face and figured he needed to get to bed. "How about we pay up and I drop you off at the hotel?" Daniel nodded and Jack signaled their waiter.

~~

Daniel entered the hotel room and kicked his shoes off at the door. As he made his way to the bedroom, off came the jacket, the tie, the belt. He tossed his keys, wallet, and glasses onto the bed-side stand and flopped down on the bed, too tired to continue disrobing. His arm came to rest across his eyes. He'd had fun that evening. Something he hadn't experienced in a while. They were all good people and it felt like they were already good friends. Especially, Jack. He wondered briefly what it would be like to be a part of the squad and then just as briefly dismissed it. He'd probably always be the outsider, not coming up through the ranks as they had. And how would he even bring up the idea anyway? Nah, best to stick with what he did best. He yawned and could feel himself drifting off to sleep. Tomorrow would be another day and hopefully, they'd be one step closer to solving their case.

~~

Jack approached the park full of dread at what he would see. He had been fast asleep when he got the phone call. He couldn't believe what the officer had told him. He'd had to ask the man to repeat himself more than once, sure that he was having some sort of nightmare. But it was all too real. He'd ordered his other team members called and found the sergeant had already delegated that to be done. He'd reminded him to include Daniel and found that had been thought of as well. He grimaced as he pulled his jacket tighter and entered the park.

Daniel exited the cab a few blocks from the police station. The area had been cordoned off and the cab wasn't allowed through. He paid the driver and headed down the street at a trot. Helicopters were flying overhead and it looked as though the entire force was on the scene. Police dogs were barely restrained and the area was lit up with lights running off of generators. Yellow tape blocked off the little park and Daniel had to display his badge to gain entrance inside. He approached the crowd of officers. Many were milling about looking lost and devastated. Others were openly weeping. One young officer was vomiting in a nearby garbage can. As he drew nearer, the crowd parted, allowing him to pass. He drew a sharp breath at what he saw. The two figures sat side by side on the park bench, leaning against each other, propping each other up. It was obvious they were dead. The whiteness of their skin and the blood covering their torsos left no doubt as to that. Daniel saw Jack squatting down in front of the bench, his head dropped. Sam and Teal'c were standing off to the side. Sam was wiping at tears she could not stop and Daniel heard her whispering "oh god" over and over. Teal'c had his arm around her, his face grim and sorrowful. Daniel walked up to Jack and looked at his friend's bowed head before he turned his attention to the bench.

Jack saw the shoes standing next to him and knew who it was but he didn't look up. "I told them to be careful." He whispered in anguish. "Didn't I tell them to be careful?"

Daniel looked down again. "Yes, Jack. You told them," he said softly.

Jack nodded and his hand reached to quickly swipe at the moisture in his eyes. He sniffed and cleared his throat. After a moment, he pushed against his legs and straightened up.

They turned as one when they heard, "People, let us through. Let us through, please."

Janet Frasier stepped out of the crowd followed by Siler carrying his photo equipment. She had heard about the scene but it was still a shock to see. She set her jaw in determination and approached the area near the bench. She set her case down and pulled on her gloves.

"Jack, I need as many people out of here as you can get. It's not helping the crime scene to have them here traipsing" she paused as she heard continued retching "or vomiting all over my evidence."

Jack nodded and sought out the night desk sergeant to delegate a crowd control of the fellow officers.

Daniel watched as Siler photographed, and Frasier processed, the bodies of Kawalsky and Elliot. Not even twenty-four hours had passed since he had met these people. In the case of young Elliot, not even twelve. How strange life could be. Here one minute, gone the next. It never ceased to amaze him how fragile it all really was. Jack returned to silently stand next to him. Daniel looked at his friend and saw the strained features, emotions of anger and sorrow warring over his face.

"Jack. Why don't you let Frasier and Siler process the scene? Your team doesn't need to be here and you know Frasier will contact you as soon as she has anything. And I'll ask the sergeant to send some uniforms out to canvas the area. It will give them something to do, make them feel they are contributing. After all, Elliot was one of their own. Come over to the office with me. We'll make a pot of coffee, talk to the first guy at the scene, set up a timeline, there's plenty to do. Come on, Jack. Walk away with me." He tugged at Jack's sleeve and motioned for Sam and Teal'c to join them.

They returned to the squad room just as Hammond was escorted in by rookie officer Graham Simmons. Jack gave Hammond a brief synopsis on what they knew, which wasn't much. With grim calmness, Hammond closed the door to his office and began making phone calls up the chain of command. Ultimately, the mayor would have to be notified as well as the city council. He was sure Councilman Kinsey would have a field day with this. The man was always trying to bust their chops in one way or another. How much better ammo could he be given than the murder of two officers dumped into a public park sitting in the middle of a city block that for the most part, held the majority of their judicial and law enforcement agencies at its perimeter? Hammond sighed and looked up the number of their media liaison, Paul Davis. If anybody could put a spin on this to keep Kinsey at bay, it would be this man. He began dialing.

Daniel sipped on his coffee as he watched Jack pace the floor. They had interviewed the first officer on the scene and hadn't gained any significant insight. Carter and Murray had tried to track down the supposed informant Kawalsky was supposed to meet but were unsuccessful in locating him. Daniel began to doubt that such a person actually called but rather the killer himself had pretended to be one and had set up the meeting. He voiced that opinion to Jack and the others and was met with a glare then a sudden loud "Son of a bitch! Son...Of...A... Bitch!" as Jack knocked folders and papers off the desk onto the floor.

"O'Neill." Murray tried to calm Jack down but he pushed him off. The phone rang and Carter quickly picked it up. The others watched as she paled visibly at the words being spoken to her. "I understand. Yes. I'll make sure to let him know. Yes. Thank you, Janet." She hung up to look at them, her eyes filling again with tears.

Jack looked at her, his head cocked to one side. "Carter?" She didn't reply immediately. "Carter, please."

She nodded and moved closer to them. She looked to the floor and then locked her gaze on Jack. "Janet's finished her preliminaries. It's the same perp, obviously. Similar wounds, both stabbed, tortured." She had to clear her throat before she could continue. "Kawalsky was not sexually violated but young Elliot was." She looked away as she spoke the last.

Jack swallowed hard and his jaw set. He picked up the coffee mug off his desk and with a roar sent it sailing across the room to smash against the wall.

Hammond came out of his office, phone in hand. "Detective! What in blue blazes is going on out here?"

Simmons stepped up. "I'll fill you in, sir," he said as he ushered the older man back into his office.

Jack ran his hands through his hair and began pacing again. He glared at each one of them daring them to say anything. His fists were clenching and unclenching. Then he suddenly stopped pacing and came to stand in front of Daniel.

"Why haven't you found him yet?" Jack hissed at him.

"Excuse me?" A startled Daniel replied.

"You're the expert. That's why you're here right? To catch the guy we can't? So why haven't you caught him?"

"Jack..."

"Or maybe you can't cut it anymore. Maybe that's the real reason you retired from active cases, huh, Daniel?"

Daniel stiffened. He knew Jack was hurting. Knew he was angry at his own helplessness and was looking to strike out at the unseen enemy who was taunting them. Knew Jack would lash out at anybody right now and that he was the current target. Knew this

conversation would go downhill fast and the words would get harsher, the tone sharper. Clinically, he knew all of this. Yet, the words stung just as they were meant to and it crossed his mind that maybe the friendship had been one-sided after all. Maybe he had dropped his defenses prematurely, tried to have a friend where only an acquaintance existed. He tried to keep emotions out of his voice as he softly spoke. "I'm here because you asked me, Jack. I'm helping the best I can."

"Well, that's not good enough!" Jack thundered. ""Not nearly! I've got two dead cops on my hands now. One of whom was a good friend and the other was just a baby!"

"He was a young man, Jack, not a baby. Both knew what this case was about. Both were warned and both knew the risks. It's part of the business."

"Risks? Risks? Hell, Daniel, that's something you take when you cross the street against the light." Jack paced in front of him. "As a cop, you might expect to get shot at sometime during your career but you do not, I repeat do NOT, expect to be carved up like some damn Thanksgiving turkey!"

"Jack...."

"Will you stop it?!" Jack stopped in front of Daniel again. His face was thunderous and his jaws were working to keep control over himself. "Stop being so damn calm about the whole thing! You sit there like you have it all under control, like it doesn't touch you or move you at all. God, how can you be so cold?"

Daniel drew in a sharp breath at the same time he heard Murray's "O'Neill!" and Carter's "Jack!" ring out. If only Jack knew what it took for him to contain his own rage, his own revulsion at what he had seen and witnessed during this case. Jack's words were like a slap to the face, a lash to his skin. Still he had to hold back, had to keep control. His voice was very tight and low when he spoke. "Jack, I didn't know your people, any more than you knew the previous victims, but I can assure you that I am not 'unmoved' by what has happened to any of them. I can also tell you that the rage you are expressing now is not going to serve you in catching their killer. It's only going to work against you." Daniel looked to Carter and Murray as he picked up his jacket. "It's been a difficult night. I think maybe some sleep and a little distance will give us a better perspective. I'll check in later today." Sam gave him a hug; Teal'c gave him a nod. He looked back at Jack who was now staring out the window. "Goodnight, Jack." He waited but received no acknowledge- ment. This time the slight was too much for his exhausted emotions to deal with and Daniel's eyes shimmered as he turned away quickly and headed out of the precinct, his uniformed escort struggling to keep pace.

~~

After Daniel had left, Hammond had emerged from his office and ordered them to go home. He had Makepeace's team running this particular part of the investigation as he felt Jack's crew needed to step back long enough to get some rest and regain their perspective. Jack grimaced at what was almost verbatim the words Daniel had used. He knew he had been unfair to the agent but at the time he couldn't seem to stop himself from saying the things he had said. He rubbed his hands over his face, exhaustion beginning to take over. He offered his spare bedroom and den couch to his team and was a little surprised when they accepted. Apparently none of them felt like being alone right now. He briefly wondered about Daniel being alone but surmised the man probably wanted to steer clear of him for the present. He picked up his car keys and jacket as he waited on Carter and Murray to grab their belongings. Then they headed out for Jack's together.

~~

Daniel stood in the steamy shower, hot water running over his head and down his back. He leaned against the tiled wall and let the liquid bathe tired and tense muscles. He replayed the case in his head, the photos, the notes, the interviews, the conversations. Scenes of Kawalsky and Elliot alive at the station flashed through his mind and then their horrific ending in the park made its appearance as well. Dinner at O'Malley's sneaked in and he smiled briefly at that. Then he relived Jack's harsh words and they struck their target all over again. He let out a sob and smacked the tile with his fist. He'd only physically been on site for one day but Jack was right – he'd been involved with the case since that first day Jack had visited him at Quantico. So maybe Jack had been right about the other too. Maybe he had lost it. How many more people would die because he couldn't cut it anymore? He slowly slid down the wall and found himself sitting on the shower floor, the water beating down on him. He drew his knees up and placed his crossed arms on top of them. He dropped his head forward to rest on his arms. Kawalsky dead. Elliot dead. Sha're long dead. And he had not been able to stop any of it. Each time he'd tried so hard to stay in control, so hard to make a difference, a contribution. Had suppressed his emotions and his feelings to gain the upper hand. But still the enemy had won and he had lost. Two years ago and now again. Everyone was looking at him for the answers, they always did. The responsibility was so overwhelming, so consuming. And he had no one to talk to about it. Sha're, his anchor, was no longer there. And Jack, his friend, had just turned his back on him. Literally. He swallowed repeatedly as he tried to fight back the tears but they too won out in the end. The sobs racked his body as the water continued to sluice over him. He shouldn't have come. He lowered his legs and wrapped his arms around himself as he rocked back and forth. He'd been mistaken. He wasn't ready for this. He could barely recognize the anguished, hoarse voice echoing off the tiled walls as his own anymore. He didn't even notice when the hot water cooled off and cold, ice-water began lapping at his skin. Slowly his shivering body stilled and he sat there unmoving long after there were no more tears left in him to purge.

~~

Carter lay in the spare bed at Jack's place, sleep eluding her. Kawalsky's and Elliot's deaths were nothing short of horrific to her. She knew that the other victims' deaths were just as terrible but somehow when you actually knew the person, it seemed worse. She felt frustrated and inept that they hadn't been able to catch the madman behind it all. Maybe if they had been sharper, more alert, they could have had him by now and the two cops would still be alive. Yet she couldn't honestly see how they could have done anything different. They had worked diligently and endlessly, day after day. They had done their best. And so had Daniel for the short time he'd been involved. She really liked him and thought they could get to be good friends. Right now though, she felt sorry for him. He had received the brunt of Jack's anger. She understood where Jack was coming from but at the same time Daniel was only human. Was it his fault he had no magical answers for them? Jack was an awesome cop and a great leader and she had learned much from him but she also knew he had a stubborn, fierce streak that could be hurtful to those around him. She had felt herself attracted to him at one time. Eventually, she came to realize it was an infatuation with his strength of character and self-assuredness. Both were qualities she admired. Though his rugged good looks didn't hurt him any either, she smiled to herself. She sighed and pulled the covers up closer when she shivered. Whether it was because of the shock of what they had just been through or the light-weight oversized t-shirt Jack had given her to wear, it seemed a little chilly to her and she couldn't seem to get warm. She snuggled down further under the blanket, finally drawing it up over her head before drifting off to sleep.

Murray finished meditating and moved to lie down on the couch in the den. He lay on top of the blanket, staring at the ceiling. He always found it odd sleeping away from home. Little sounds that were probably normal seemed to catch his attention until he could either identify them or relegate them to something non-threatening. Once that was accomplished then he would be able to relax enough to sleep. He heard the air unit kick on. It seemed to cycle every twenty-minutes or so. His thoughts began to drift. Their current case was indeed troubling. It had been a strain on them all for a while but this night's events had taken an even more disastrous turn. He knew they had pursued all possible avenues and sought out all possible leads. And he did not hold Daniel Jackson responsible for being unable to solve the case any more than he held his fellow team members or himself responsible. Yet he could not help but feel they had all failed in some unknown way and it ultimately had cost their two co-workers their lives. He grimaced as he remembered O'Neill's accusations flung in frustrated anger at the FBI agent. He had seen the hurt pass over the younger man's face, the pain flicker in his eyes before he regained control. He wasn't sure O'Neill had seen that and he frowned deeper at the thought. Murray had liked the younger man as soon as he had met him. He'd been impressed that the agent had formed such a fast friendship with O'Neill because the cop rarely let people get close to him - his team was his family and pretty much his only friends. Murray suspected Daniel Jackson was somewhat reclusive as well from what O'Neill had told them after his first encounter with the man. So O'Neill's words had to have stung the younger man even more sharply. Murray shook his head slowly. This killer, this evil thing, was mocking them now. Making them doubt themselves, doubt each other, turn on each other. It was chilling and sobering the power it seemed to wield. He laced his fingers together as he crossed his hands over his chest and closed his eyes. His subconscious had just identified the snap and pop he'd heard earlier and now he could relax, ready to sleep.

Jack ran a towel over his damp hair and looked out into the hallway. All was dark so the others must have gone to bed. When they first arrived, they had sat around and briefly watched the breaking news report on TV, but said very little. Then Jack had pulled out extra blankets and pillows and showed them where they could bunk down before he headed to the shower. Jack stepped back into his room and sat down on the edge of the bed. He set his alarm clock, tossed the towel, and then pulled back the bed covers and slid beneath them. He reached up and turned the bedside lamp off then laid on his back staring into the darkness. Slowly his eyes became adjusted and he could pick out the furniture and other objects in the room. He'd never realized just how dark some of the corners in his room really were. The night replayed in his head and he tried shutting the images out, not wanting to give them any more of himself than he already had. The overwhelming frustration he was feeling had his eyes burning from unshed angry tears. He knew people died every day and maybe even some more horrifically. But these people were his responsibility, under his orders. He'd known Kawalsky since the old academy days; he was his friend. How could it not mean more to him than some stranger's loss?

The unforgiving images kept flashing through his mind. Then Daniel's face appeared briefly and Jack saw the stunned hurt look he had missed before. He knew he had lashed out at Daniel but at the time he had wanted someone to feel the hurt and pain he himself was experiencing. So he picked the easiest target and laced his sharp words with anger and acid, picking carefully what would impact most. It was only now he realized just how well he had succeeded in hitting the mark. He groaned in misery as he rolled over onto his side. Daniel was his friend and he hadn't deserved that kind of treatment from Jack. He'd have to go over to the hotel and apologize first thing. That is, if Daniel was still speaking to him.

~~

Daniel awoke to banging on the front door of his hotel suite. He opened one puffy eye and looked at the clock and groaned. While it was late in the day, he had only gotten in a few hours sleep. The banging continued more forcefully.

"All right, already!" he yelled at the unwelcome intruder and kicked at the bed-sheets. The pounding stopped. He sat up and ran his hands over his face and through his hair as he looked around for his robe. He snatched it up and slipped it on over his t-shirt and boxers, tying the belt loosely. He padded across the floor in sock-clad feet and was half way across the living room area when the pounding resumed, startling him and causing him to hit his toes against an end table. He began to hop around and curse. Damn, son of a bitch! That hurt! He growled as he eyed the door. Whoever this person was, they were so dead right now. He continued to move towards the door limping as he did so.

Jack stood outside Daniel's suite with his ear to the door. He'd been pounding away long enough now to have awoken the man. He thought he'd heard a voice and stopped knocking but then resumed when he continued to hear silence. He pounded some more. "Daniel, if you don't open this door, I'm going to assume you're in trouble and shoot the lock off."

Daniel stopped as he reached the door. Jack? What was he doing here? Jack was going to shoot his door? As the words sunk in, Daniel yelled. "Don't shoot at the door, Jack, I'm right behind it!"

"Well then open it, Daniel. The other hotel guests are beginning to come out of their rooms." Jack turned to smile at them and held up his badge. "Official police business. Not to worry. Go back to your rooms."

Daniel opened the door to find Jack displaying his badge with one hand and sporting a food carrier with two cups of coffee and a bag of donuts in the other. The people began dispersing and Jack turned around to face Daniel.

"Hi." Jack said as he took in the obvious 'just rolled out of bed' look. Daniel's hair was sticking out all over and he was rubbing at barely opened eyes.

Daniel frowned. "Hi? What are you doing here, Jack? I was sleeping."

Jack held up the coffee and donuts. "I come bearing gifts and apologies. You gonna let me in?"

Daniel studied him for a moment then stepped aside and opened the door further to let Jack through.

Jack looked around the tastefully decorated suite, the shared living area, the full kitchen, the large bedroom off to the side. "Wow, Daniel. Nice set up. Didn't know the bureau was so good to its people."

Daniel snorted as he snagged the bag of donuts and looked inside. "They're not. I paid for it out of my own pocket."

"Really?"

Daniel held up a donut. "Really." He exchanged the bag for one of the cups of coffee and a napkin and moved over to the couch. He curled his legs up under him and drug a pillow onto his lap. He laid the napkin on top of the pillow and then sat the donut down on it so he could pull the lid off the coffee container. He closed his eyes as he inhaled the aroma and then slowly took his first sips of the hot ambrosia. He sighed in contentment. He opened his eyes to find Jack still standing, staring at him.

"Have a seat, Jack. Tell me what's going on. Has something else happened?"

Jack plopped down onto the overstuffed chair and opened his coffee. "No, nothing new has happened." He took a sip. The coffee was good but somehow it didn't give him the same pleasure it had obviously given Daniel. He looked at Daniel's swollen, red eyes and pale, drawn face and knew what had probably caused both. "You look like you didn't sleep much."

Daniel sipped on his coffee. "Well, I...uhm...had a lot on my mind."

Jack nodded and cleared his throat. "Look, I'm here because I was an ass last night and I want to apologize to my friend for hurting him."

"Hence the coffee and donuts."

"Yeah."

Daniel studied the remorseful Jack thoughtfully. So, it hadn't been a one-sided friendship after all. He broke his donut into little pieces on the napkin. "You were hurting. I was there. It's understandable."

"But not right, Daniel. And I'm truly sorry."

Daniel nodded and raised his coffee cup. "Apology accepted. To friends."

Jack grinned and responded in kind. "To friends."

They ate their donuts in silence for a few minutes. Then Daniel asked about Carter and Murray and what the next steps were going to be.

"Well, after the bodies are released, there will be funeral services for both. It'll take a few days to set all that up. Carter and Murray are heading down to the station to see if Makepeace's team has turned anything up in our absence." Jack took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "And there will probably be an investigation by Internal Affairs."

Daniel frowned. "What for?"

"Elliot was a rookie. I gave my okay for him to go with Kawalsky. Some may see that as irresponsibility on my part particularly if the kid's inexperience contributed to their deaths."

"I don't know what to say, Jack. It hardly seems fair that they'd come after you for that."

Jack shrugged. "IAB has its own agenda. Always has. Harry Maybourne will lead the internal affairs investigation if there is one. You never know exactly where that guy stands. Sometimes he comes across as a creep and at others, he almost seems decent. Who knows?" He wadded up his napkin and stuck it into the empty coffee container. "So, you awake now?"

Daniel grimaced. "Barely."

"Well, start moving around. Go get dressed. There's things to do. People to see. Clues to discover. Criminals to catch."

Daniel groaned. "Did I forget to mention to you Jack that I am so not a morning person?"

"Seems I heard that somewhere. However, case in point, Doctor - Agent Jackson – whoever you are - it is not morning but late afternoon." Jack stood up and extended his hand down to Daniel, offering to help him up off the couch.

Daniel sighed and took the offered hand. He headed towards the bedroom when Jack called after him.

"Daniel, you're limping."

Daniel looked down at his foot. "Yeah, I stubbed my toes."

"Well, how did you do that?"

"Some asshole was banging my door down and in my haste to stop him, I hit my foot against an end table."

Jack winced. "Ouch."

"Yeah," Daniel smirked.

Jack grinned. "Well apparently, they just let any riff-raff in here, Daniel. You should think about relocation."

~~

When they reached the station, Jack gathered his team together in a conference room.

"Okay, we are missing something key here. We need to recap. What do we have and what do we need?"

"We have six dead bodies and a killer." Daniel spoke up.

"Let's go with that. Weapon was a knife. Forensics say a hunting style. What else?"

"We have secondary crime scenes, no primaries." Carter piped in.

"So location eludes us. But he needs somewhere private to be able to do what he does. Somewhere people can't hear or see. Somewhere empty or abandoned."

Daniel sat forward suddenly. "Whose body did you find first?"

"The real estate guy, why?"

"Jack, what if the killer met with the real estate agent, killed him at one of the rental properties and took the man's keys. Maybe keys to other locations. Maybe he's using the real estate guy's places to commit the murders."

Murray's eyebrow rose. It was an interesting hypothesis.

Jack grinned. "Good thought. We need to get a listing of all properties he had access to and check them out."

Carter flipped through her notes. "Janet called earlier. She tracked down the manufacturer of the carpet. They have only one outlet locally. We're trying to track down who they've sold this type to commercially or if they have installed any in this area."

Jack looked at Daniel. "You think its going to lead us to one of the rental properties don't you?"

"It's a pretty good bet."

"There is something that no one has yet addressed." Murray looked at each one.

"What's that?" Jack looked at him curiously.

Murray looked at Daniel. "You said earlier that you felt the killer had impersonated one of Kawalsky's informants to set a trap for him."

Daniel frowned. "Yes. I did."

Murray inclined his head. "And based on Kawalsky's own words as he turned down the dinner invitation, I would concur with your assessment."

Daniel looked to Jack and Carter, then back to Murray. "I'm sorry, Teal'c. I'm not following where you going with this."

"For the killer to impersonate one of his informants, the killer had to ask for Kawalsky by name. How did he know his name?"

Daniel looked at Jack, Jack looked at Carter, Carter looked at Murray. No one had the answer.

~~

Days passed and the media was in a feeding frenzy. The public wanted someone held accountable for these terrible crimes. The fear of the populous was almost palpable. If the cops couldn't even protect their own, what chance did the average citizen have? No one felt safe. The mayor wanted answers. The city council led by Councilman Kinsey was calling for heads to roll within the department. Jack and his team had undergone questions from the Internal Affairs Bureau several times. The idea about the rental properties began to pan out and two of the primary murder scenes had already been located and were in the stages of being processed. Donations had been gathered for the slain officers' families and the perimeter around the park was decorated with flowers and teddy bears, ribbons and cards from well-meaning people trying to cope and to understand what was happening in their midst.

And while the city floundered in turmoil, a lone figure basked in the glorious mayhem and confusion that his actions had generated. His breath hitched in exhilaration as he listened to the fear in people's voices. He had to cover his mouth so others could not see his smiles hidden behind his hands. The stench of terror poured out from their very bodies as he passed them on the streets and it was all he could do not to embarrass himself by displaying his excitement for all to see. He walked right by the police station, even put a card in front of the pathetic park display. He had to fake a cough to cover up a giggle as an officer came to stand next to him, looking at the sad memorial. The thrill that ran up his spine at being so close to the cop almost made him pass out. And at that moment, he knew what his next step would be.

~~

Daniel stood in the background as the funeral procession made its way to the grave-site. The service was for Kawalsky. Jack was one of the pallbearers and Daniel could see his face was ashen and tight, his jaw set in grim determination. Only once did he glance Daniel's way and his eyes were so full of pain and sorrow that Daniel felt as though he had been physically struck. The service for the other officer was to take place the next day in Elliot's home town but Daniel knew that most people at today's service were mourning the loss of the young man at the same time.

Daniel watched the people gathering, moving in for the grave-side eulogy. He held back and stood among the trees dotting the service road where the cars were parked. He hated funerals. Memories of his parent's caskets being lowered into the grave flashed through his mind and he could see himself as the bewildered, eight-year old little boy, lost and alone. Another flash and the memory of his wife's coffin being sealed came forward, the image of himself staring in total shock, all cried-out from weeping endlessly over her dead body. He shook his head and returned to the present day. After his mini-meltdown in the shower, he could feel himself detaching more and more. And he knew the longer he stayed on this case, the worse it would get. He hated that. He realized it was a self-survival kind of thing but he hated the numbness, the loss of feeling, the loss of self. To push down who he was and what he felt would allow him to do his job but it would cost him. Soon he wouldn't be able to feel anything at all. Not even fear. And that would be dangerous. To himself and those around him.

Daniel studied the group of people some more. He was sure the killer would appear here today. He'd take great pains to be there among the grief-stricken assembly and mingle close to the cops, taunting them with his presence. He'd have to be there to witness the results of his handiwork, wouldn't be able to resist it. There were many faces Daniel did not recognize but he thought he still might be able to get a read on their guy if he showed.

He moved a little closer to the huddled gathering, tuning out the words, watching the bowed heads, the Kleenex swiping at tears, the mumbling lips reciting prayers, the occasional anguished look to the skies. He saw another figure among the black sea of mourners, studying the lamenters. To Daniel, the man seemed almost....excited. He slowly edged his way around the back of the crowd to get closer to the man, keeping him in his sight. He followed the man's gaze and saw him focus in Jack's direction. The man was edging back out of the crowd. His face carried an odd expression, his eyes half-lidded as though he were close to the throws of ecstasy.

Daniel moved in closer and stepped up just as the man unexpectedly turned to leave. They came face to face and Daniel saw the orgasmic feral smile and crazed-lit eyes. He gasped as he also saw recognition flash in them and suddenly a masked slammed into place and Daniel now found himself face to face with a fellow mourner. The sudden change in facial expression was startling and Daniel felt his heart pounding in his chest. This was the man. He knew it, sensed it. And more disturbing, the man had seemed to recognize him or at least his threat potential. Daniel knew he couldn't let the man leave but how was he going to stop him? How could he get Jack's attention? He had to stall.

He started to speak but was forestalled by the other's own question. "Did you know Detective Kawalsky very well?" The voice asked mournfully, innocently but the eyes flashed with something akin to amusement. It was quickly hidden.

"No, not really. And you?"

The man sighed in mock sadness and bowed his head. "Yes. You could say we were very close." The man lifted his funeral service bulletin to cover his mouth.

What had started out as little warning bells in Daniel's head had now turned into a raging three-alarm fire. Daniel could feel the vibrations coming off this man. He practically hummed with electricity. It dawned on Daniel that the man was feeding off the pain of the lamenters around him. If physical torture turned him on then emotional torment sent him into orgasmic flight.

Daniel could feel the man studying him and he had to clamp down on his reactions and revulsion at standing so close to the vile creature. Apparently, his silence caused him to be reassessed and deemed non-threatening and the face relaxed into one that Daniel thought looked vaguely familiar. Had he seen this man before today or was it just earlier at the services at the church? The face was so moldable it could have been anywhere.

Daniel had to keep the man held in conversation until he could get someone's attention. He didn't think he could take the man down by himself. "Uhm, do you know many of the detectives here?" He gestured at the crowd.

A sickly sweet smile appeared on the monster's lips. "Oh, yes. Some. Mostly by sight or reputation. There's one or two I'd really like to get to know better."

Daniel felt his stomach roll. His skin was crawling with the need to flee but he couldn't let the man see that. Again, he shoved down that part of himself that was vulnerable.

"Oh? Well, maybe I know them and could introduce you. Who did you have in mind? We could walk over there now. The service is almost over."

"No, I'd hate to intrude on this delicate moment. Perhaps another time." He turned to leave and Daniel reached out his hand to stay him.

"Hey, at least, tell me your name so I can let them know you dropped by to pay your respects. Maybe they'll come see you out of gratitude." He hated playing the cat and mouse game. Both were dancing around each other, sparring, teasing, taunting.

The man looked at Daniel's hand resting on his arm and then looked up into his face. "I don't believe you introduced yourself to me." The man murmured with that sickly sweet smile again.

Daniel continued to push down his emotions. The man was standing there before him like a cat licking its lips before it devours its dinner. Daniel frowned and removed his hand.

"No, I don't believe either one of us did." He left it at that.

The man seemed to be amused at the lack of introduction and studied Daniel more intently and openly. "You're the visiting FBI official aren't you?"

Daniel drew a sharp breath. The man continued. "I believe your name is – Daniel. Yes, Daniel Jackson, isn't it?" The smile grew wide at Daniel's stunned silence. Daniel felt like he couldn't breathe anymore. Then he saw his adversary's eyes light up and he realized he was no longer fooling the killer. He had played the man's game and had just gotten caught.

Jack looked around at his friends and co-workers. The service was over and people were dispersing. Hands were shaken and tearful hugs were given. He gave Sam's hand a squeeze and patted Teal'c on the back as he walked away from them. He looked around for Daniel. He had seen him there earlier but didn't know where he had gotten to. He scanned the area and then spied him over near the cars talking to some man. Jack frowned. Daniel didn't look like he felt very well. He watched as the man swiftly put an arm around the agent as though to catch him. Was he sick? "Daniel?" Jack called out to him. The man standing next to Daniel turned to face Jack, his face carrying an odd expression. The hairs on Jack's neck stood on end. Something was very wrong. "Daniel?"

Jack called out again as his brisk pace picked up speed. The man released his hold on Daniel and took off running. Daniel slumped to the ground, his hands clutching his chest. Jack broke out into a run catching the attention of his other team members who followed suit.

"Daniel!" Jack saw the blood pouring through the trembling fingers. He dropped down on his knees next to his friend. "Oh god, Daniel." He pulled off his jacket and pressed it against the knife wounds, his hands clasping around Daniel's bloody ones. Carter took off her jacket and placed it under Daniel's head. Jack began barking out orders, calling for help, yelling for an ambulance, sending officers after the fleeing figure with Murray leading the way. Pandemonium broke out. Jack couldn't believe this was happening. It couldn't be real.

"Jack...." He could barely hear the soft whisper coming from the ground. He leaned forward.

"I'm here, Daniel." He squeezed Daniel's hands and felt him squeeze back.

"Jack....it was him." Daniel's breathing was labored, his eyes barely focused. "He knows you. Watched you." He drew in more ragged breaths. "Has plans. For you. The team." The breaths became harsher and faster.

"Sshhh, Daniel. Ssshhh. Hush. It's okay. We're gonna get him. Just be still. Save your breath." How long would it take the ambulance to get here? Jack looked anxiously around him.

"No, Jack." Daniel wheezed and clutched at him. "You don't...understand. He knows you.....," more wheezing with small gasps followed, "knows you...Sam, Teal'c.....knew me, who I was.....what I do...," his eyes began to flutter and his hands tightened onto Jack's as he panted out , "must be careful... dangerous...traps...watch... for traps....." Daniel's voice trailed off as he got weaker, his mumbles becoming unintelligible. His grip on Jack's hands slowly released as he slipped into unconsciousness.

"Where the hell is that ambulance?!" Jack shouted at the top of his lungs.

~~

Jack paced the Emergency room floor. Occasionally, he'd stop and stare at the doors to the trauma room, shake his head in disbelief and begin pacing again. The killer had eluded capture and the entire force was now on alert. No one was safe from the deranged mind. He gave Carter a description of the man as best as he could considering the distance he was from the suspect when he saw him. She and Murray were following up on that lead. He was scared for his team and ordered them to stay together. No one was to go anywhere alone. Although that hadn't helped Kawalsky and Elliot, he suspected Elliot being a rookie had played a factor in their demise. Chalk up one for IAB. This suspect was insane; there was no doubt. For him to show up at his victim's funeral was not surprising but to attack someone in broad daylight among a horde of cops was unimaginable. He waved off the coffee that Hammond tried to hand to him and stared at the closed doors again.

Hours passed. Hammond left for a meeting with upper brass before yet another press conference could be held. Carter and Murray appeared with solemn faces and less than happy news on the lead. They joined Jack as sat slumped in the waiting room chair. He glanced at the wall clock and returned to twisting his tie in his hands, his collar long ago unbuttoned and loosened. Carter had grabbed both his and her jackets as Daniel was carried away. Jack's had been bloody from trying to stem the flow and he briefly wondered what Carter had done with it. If he thought about it, he'd ask her later. Right now, he didn't really care. He pulled at his shirt sleeves and fingered the dried blood caked on the edges. He'd tried washing it off when he'd washed his hands but there had just been so much blood everywhere. Daniel's blood. They had been totally caught off guard and he was about to lose another friend because of it.

His head jerked up as the doors to the trauma area flew open. The doctor approached them, looking tired but not defeated.

"Detective O'Neill? Agent Jackson is going to pull through."

Jack let out a "Yes!" and the others joined in, echoing the sentiment. Smiles brightened each face and they hugged and patted each other on the shoulders and back. Even the uniformed officers in the hall were smiling at the good news.

The doctor continued. "Agent Jackson's injuries were life-threatening but luckily were survivable since he received swift emergency care. His right lung was pierced and subsequently collapsed hence the respiratory difficulties. The blood loss was extensive and it's left him pretty weak. He's going to be out of commission for a while."

"Can we see Daniel now?" Jack asked.

"We're moving him to recovery and then we will put him in a private room where you and your people can stay with him. It shouldn't be too much longer," the doctor replied. He nodded at the group, shook a few hands and as he was about to leave, he turned back around to face Jack. "You know, whoever attacked him, knew exactly what he was doing."

Jack stopped in mid-celebration and turned to face the doctor. "Come again?"

"I don't think the attacker wanted your friend to die immediately because he avoided all the main arteries and organs that would cause instantaneous death. If the man had wanted to kill him outright, it would have been a simple matter of plunging that blade into his heart or abdomen and twisting it or slit his throat for that matter. Of course, if you hadn't been there to help, your friend would have bled out eventually." He paused. "You know you've got a real nut case on your hands, don't you?"

Jack took in the words and his mind whirled at the thoughts that flooded him. They all thanked the doctor again and watched as he left the waiting area. Jack turned to what was left of his team. "Okay, kids. Enough is enough. We need a new plan."

~~

Jack waited out of the way while the nurses finished moving an unconscious Daniel into his room, setting up IV's and monitors. After they left, he adjusted the chair next to the bed and moved it a little closer to the sleeping figure. The chair was actually a recliner that was typically used to allow a family member to stay in the room with a patient without being charged for another bed. Jack was grateful for it as he hadn't relished the thought of spending the night sitting in one of the small hard chairs he had sat in earlier.

One of the nurses was kind enough to bring him a blanket and pillow along with a stack of magazines. He grabbed one to look at and eased his tired body into the recliner. Jack looked over at Daniel and saw how pallid he was. His brow was furrowed as though in deep thought or much pain. Maybe a little of both, Jack reflected. An oxygen tube looped over his ears and under his nose and the bed was set at an incline to aid breathing. The soft, even beeping of the heart monitor was the only sound that broke the silence. Jack opened the magazine and began to read.

Carter and Murray worked on fulfilling all the tasks on their to-do list. They met with Hammond and informed him of the plan they had derived with Jack. Hammond reluctantly okayed the strategy. Then the people needed to help put the idea into action were contacted. It took several hours to accomplish but everyone was close to being ready and in place. Soon, they would head back to the hospital to wait. It was just a matter of time now.

Daniel's eyes fluttered open and then quickly closed back, his lids refusing to cooperate. He felt really tired or was he drugged? He could hear the soft beeping from the machine next to him. He heard a light cough come from nearby and tried opening his eyes again. This time they stayed open. He turned his head slightly and saw Jack sitting in a recliner, reading a National Geographic. He tried speaking but his mouth and throat were too dry. He must have made enough noise though because Jack lifted his head from the article and looked his way. Jack set the magazine down and returned the recliner to an upright position.

"Welcome back, Daniel. You had us worried for a while there." Jack paused a moment. "I guess there's no good time to tell you, we lost him. He got away again."

Daniel blinked and his forehead crinkled in confusion.

Jack's eyes widened. "You don't remember? The cemetery? The killer attacking you?"

With Jack's words, images flooded into Daniel's mind and the heart monitor started beeping wildly. He suddenly felt like he couldn't breathe and his chest ached terribly. He tried to sit up, pulling at the oxygen tube to remove it.

Jack moved in and put his hands on Daniel's shoulders to push him back down. "Whoa there. Its okay, Daniel. You're safe now. Take it easy. Breathe. Want me to get the nurse?"

Daniel shook his head 'no' and lay back down. The heart monitor gradually slowed to a more normal rhythm.

"You okay now?" Jack asked, not yet letting go.

Daniel nodded. He licked at dry lips and swallowed hard.

Jack saw and understood as he readjusted the oxygen tube. "Thirsty, huh? I can't give you any water yet until your doc approves but I have boatloads of ice chips you can suck on that will help." He reached over to the ice bucket and scooped out some chips into a small plastic cup. Then he slipped one or two at a time into Daniel's mouth for him until Daniel indicated he'd had enough.

Jack set the cup down on the bed-stand and turned back to face Daniel. "So, Danny-boy. Care to tell me what the hell happened out there?"

"He's decomposing, Jack." Daniel managed to rasp out.

"Yeah, I kinda figured that. Totally breaking down and going even more nutso. Who would have thought that was possible?"

"He's crashing faster than anyone I have ever seen before. There may be a physical component here as well as mental. I've seen evil before Jack but this one...." Daniel shuddered as he remembered the man's mannerisms at the funeral.

"Think you could ID him? Good enough to bring in a sketch artist?"

Daniel closed his eyes and the face leapt before him. His eyes flew open. "Yes, to both."

"You know you're our only living face-to-face witness, right?"

"Yeah," Daniel replied and then chewed at his lower lip.

Jack noticed. "What's with the pensive look?"

"I think I have seen the guy somewhere before but I can't remember where. In my mind I get a sense of it being outdoors, not inside a building." Daniel went on to explain how the killer's face altered in the short time he observed him and that he seemed to know them, even by name. He also warned Jack again about how much danger he was in.

"He didn't stab me a half dozen times, Daniel."

Daniel frowned. "That's because he has much bigger plans for you. I saw how fixated on you he was at the funeral. You are his ultimate adversary. He may try to eliminate your team one by one but he'll save you for last." He winced and put a hand to his chest as he tried sitting up further. His mind was beginning to clear from the drugs. "Think about it Jack. You said it yourself. All murder stems from issues of power. To gain it or to remove it. The only thing any of the victims had in common was power over other people. Until their own power was taken away from them. It may be this killer has issues with people in positions of any kind of authority or control over others." His eyes locked on Jack's. "As lead investigator on this case – his case - that makes you the ultimate prize."

Before Jack could reply, a knock at the door interrupted him. Carter poked her head in.

"It's just us." Carter stepped into the room followed by Murray. She smiled when she saw Daniel was sitting up. "Daniel! It's good to see you awake." She took in the wan face with the dark circles under the eyes and moved over to the bed to give him a gentle hug.

"Indeed." Murray contributed with a small smile.

Carter continued. "By the way, Janet called the squad before we left. She found some latent prints at one of the scenes we discovered through the commercial properties. She's running them through VICAP now to see if she can find a match."

Jack nodded and looked to Daniel. "We're closing in on him, Daniel." He looked at Carter and Murray. "Well? Did you get it all done?"

"Yes, we did." Carter replied as she sat on the edge of the bed.

Murray picked up the TV remote and aimed it at the monitor attached to the wall.

"What did you do?" A curious Daniel asked.

"We've set our own trap." Jack said smugly.

Daniel's eyebrows rose. "How?"

"A certain media liaison has informed the press that our FBI consultant has been attacked and is currently under medical care at Memorial Hospital under protective guard by yours truly. Observe even as we speak." Jack pointed at the television and heads turned as the news program Murray had tuned to began relaying the information about Daniel and his location.

Daniel shook his head. "This is your plan?"

"Simplistic in its nature, isn't it?"

"Insane might be a better word." Daniel blinked several times as the broadcast continued. "Uhm, Jack. How is this a trap? It happens to be the truth." His eyes widened. "Are you staking me out like the proverbial goat to catch your lion?"

"Relax, Daniel. We are going to draw him to a room a few doors down by placing a uniformed officer outside the door to attract his attention. Inside will be Officer Simmons who will portray you in the bed with covers pulled up extremely high. I will be inside the room and we have already set up cameras. The monitoring equipment is in the room between yours and the stake out. Murray along with several uniforms will be watching from there. Carter will stay here with you where you will be safe. We're going to catch him this time, Daniel."

"Jack, it's not that I don't have faith in you," he looked at him and then at the others, "in all of you - but don't you think this guy is sharp enough to know this is a trap?"

"Yes. But as you keep pointing out, Daniel, his reasoning abilities are deteriorating rapidly. I'm betting that he wants this enough to take the risk."

Daniel's forehead furrowed. He wasn't sure he liked this plan. Carter's cell phone rang and she moved off the bed and crossed over to the window, talking softly to someone on the other end.

Daniel continued. "Okay, say he does take the risk. How are you going to know he's even entered the building? And if an orderly or male nurse enters the room, how will you know if it's him or not?"

"Well, that's where we have you give the details to our sketch artist, who is waiting in the other room by the way."

Carter flipped her cell phone shut. "We may not need that."

Jack looked at her. "Carter?"

"That was Janet on the phone. They got a hit on the print. If we can give her a fax number here she'll send us the picture the print produced. If Daniel confirms this is the guy, we've got him." Her grin was wide.

Jack nodded. "Murray, stay here with Daniel. Carter and I are headed to the nurse's station."

The door closed and Daniel looked to Murray who had turned his attention back to the television. Some late-night talk show was coming on.

"Teal'c. Do you think this is a good plan?"

Murray raised an eyebrow. "It is the only plan we have Daniel Jackson. This evil creature has been most elusive. The normal does not apply in this situation. Therefore it is in our best interest to try whatever methods we can to obtain his capture."

"Sort of an insane trap for an insane quarry." Daniel smiled ever-so-slightly.

"O'Neill knows what he is doing. Trust him."

"I do." Daniel suddenly lay back against the pillows with a pained look on his face. "It's the other guy I have a problem with."

"Do you need medical attention, Daniel Jackson?"

"No, I'm fine." Daniel said as he winced again.

Murray noticed. "You are, in fact, not fine. I will call for a nurse."

"No, Teal'c. Please don't. I'm fine. Really."

"Then I will tell O'Neill."

"You can't. If you call for a nurse or tell Jack, they'll just give me drugs and then I won't be alert. Don't you think right now that's something I really need to be?"

Murray stared at Daniel evaluating his words. Before he responded, Jack and Carter came back into the room. Jack noticed the tension between the two. "What's up?"

Murray spoke. "We were discussing the merits of your plan, O'Neill. And how we all must stay alert."

Daniel sighed and tried to send a silent 'thank you' to Teal'c.

Jack moved closer to the bed. "Well, we've got the pic. He fits the description I provided but I wasn't close enough to see his face in any detail. Take a look, Daniel and see what you think."

Daniel sat forward as he reached for the fax. He looked at the face. It was almost shapeless for the lack of emotion on it, like a blank slate waiting for an artist to render an expression. But the eyes, they were unmistakable. Daniel's chest constricted and his hand clenched the paper as the sudden pain washed over him.

"Daniel?" Jack asked, worried at the obvious discomfort of the other man.

Daniel just nodded and handed the fax back to Jack.

"Then we've got him. Carter, get some copies of this picture to our guys stationed here in the hospital. I'm going to call Hammond and let him know we have a positive ID. He'll send some people to this guy's last known residence and see if we can get some local background info, like where he works. Murray, you stay with Daniel for now."

After Carter and Jack left the room, Daniel lay back on the pillows and caught Murray staring at him. "Don't say it."

Murray's eyebrow rose but he said nothing.

"I'm fine. I'm just tired. All I need is to get some sleep."

"Sleep then, Daniel Jackson. I will stay with you until Samantha Carter returns to watch over you. The hospital is under guard and the floor under surveillance. You are safe."

"It's not me I'm worried about. It's Jack he wants."

"As soon as O'Neill returns, we will take our assigned stations and lie in wait for this killer. He will not elude us again."

Daniel nodded and felt himself relaxing at the confident words being spoken. He tried watching television but his eyelids began to droop and he could feel himself slowly beginning to drift off. There was something about that fax picture, something familiar beyond the obvious. And it wasn't related to the confrontation in the cemetery. If he could just concentrate, maybe he could figure it out. If he could just rest a little, just for a few minutes. Just a few.

Jack re-entered the room and saw Daniel had fallen asleep. Even in slumber the man appeared to be thinking. He looked to Murray. "Is he all right?"

Murray lifted an eyebrow. "He says he is fine." He looked at the sleeping figure. "Even if that were not so, isn't sleep the most beneficial medicine for him right now?"

"Yeah. Sure. Youbetcha." Jack frowned in thought.

Carter entered the room. "Everyone has a copy of the photo and is good to go." She looked at Daniel and shook her head. "He looks exhausted."

"Ya think?" Jack sighed. "Okay, let's nail this creep. Eight hour shifts until we catch the bastard. Murray, you switch off with Pierce when the time comes. Keep an eye on those monitors. I want help there fast if I need it. I'll switch with Reynolds if necessary. Carter, you and Hawkins will trade off. Everyone has been notified of their assignments already. Makepeace and his men have the entrances and exits covered. Come on, Murray, let's get into place." He looked back at the sleeping FBI agent as they exited the room. "Carter, keep him safe."

~~

Daniel woke up to find Officer Hawkins sitting in the recliner instead of Sam. She had been there earlier when he roused but he could not make himself get up at the time and fell back into troubled sleep instead.

"Good Morning, Agent Jackson." Hawkins said.

"Morning." Daniel winced as he sat up. "Anything happen?"

"Nope. Not a peep. Everything has been real quiet. Detective Carter is catching some Z's now."

"Good." Daniel said. Not actually sure that it was. He'd have been a lot happier if the madman had been caught while he slept.

"Another thing. Your doc came in, gave you clearance for food and drink. So breakfast should be here soon."

Daniel nodded. "Okay. Think I'll go wash my face and, uh, take care of things."

"Sure. Take your time."

Daniel gingerly moved off the bed and slowly headed towards the bathroom.

"Need any help?"

Daniel waved the cop off. "No. Thanks. I've got it." He closed the bathroom door behind him. After relieving his bladder of its burden, he washed his hands and looked at himself in the mirror over the sink. He looked like hell. He could see the pain in the pale, etched features and realized he had fooled no one when he had said he was fine. Pain meds would have helped but he knew they would leave him too confused and unfocused. He grabbed a washcloth and filled the basin with warm water. He wasn't supposed to shower yet but he could give himself a birdbath. He ran the warm, damp cloth over his face. It felt good. As he continued cleaning up, he thought he heard voices in the other room. Breakfast must have arrived. He finished his abolitions and slowly headed back into the room.

Hawkins was seated in the chair with his back to him facing the television. Daniel spied the food cart and moved over to find eggs and ham, donuts and coffee. Surely this wasn't the normal hospital fare but who cared? He smiled and grabbed a cup and filled it with the rich, dark liquid. He brought it up to his face to take a whiff and with closed eyes, took his first sip. Warmth flooded him as the coffee made its way into his system. He smiled and opened his eyes to look at the food selection again. He grabbed a donut that was probably meant for the officer, not the patient. "Hey Hawkins, I hope you don't mind if I take one of the donuts," he said as he took a bite and turned around to face the chair. His eyes widened at what he saw and the cup slipped from his hand to shatter onto the floor. He blinked several times as he stared at the figure, the donut still held in his mouth. His heart began pounding against his chest and he broke out into a sweat. Suddenly as if waking from a stupor, he spit the remnants of the donut out and scanned the room. He saw no one. He quickly moved over to the chair. Hawkins' throat had been slit; his blood soaked his shirt. Daniel knew it was useless but he checked for a pulse anyway. He shook his head then grabbed the officer's gun and checked for bullets. Adrenalin coursing through him now, he moved swiftly across the room and carefully opened the door a crack, cautiously peering out.

He saw a nurse at the far end of the hall talking with an orderly mopping floors but no one was at the nurse's station. He didn't see the officer that was supposed to be posted outside of the room with Jack and Simmons in it. Or was it Reynolds and Simmons now? He warily edged his way down the hall, hugging close to the wall until he reached the door of the room where the monitors where supposed to be set up. He quietly opened the door and slipped inside. He saw Murray in a seated position doing something like meditation. He didn't see Pierce. He moved over to his friend and touched his arm "Teal'c?"

Murray's eyes snapped open. "Daniel Jackson? Why are you out of your room?" Then he saw the gun in Daniel's hand. "Where is Officer Hawkins?"

"Hawkins is dead. Where's Pierce?" He whispered harshly. At that moment, they heard the toilet flush in the bathroom. Daniel blew out a breath. God he hoped it was Pierce in there. Murray rose to his feet and Daniel trained the gun on the closed door.

After a few moments, the bathroom door opened and a startled Pierce yelped, "What the hell?"

"Hawkins is dead. Throat slit." Daniel stated as explanation.

"Carter? O'Neill?"

"I don't know yet. What's on the monitors?"

They moved over to the equipment and saw Simmons lying in the bed, watching the television. Reynolds was eating coffee and donuts along with the guard that was supposed to be posted outside the room.

"Where's Jack and Sam?" Daniel asked, worry and dread beginning to fill him.

"Samantha Carter was supposed to retire to the doctor's lounge for sleep. O'Neill stated he was going to talk to Makepeace at the command center downstairs before he sought rest in the doctor's lounge as well."

Daniel looked at Pierce. "Go talk to Reynolds. Let him and the others know what's up. It had to be the person who brought breakfast that killed Hawkins. They're eating breakfast; find out how he managed to get past all three of them. Teal'c do you have a radio to contact Makepeace? Ask him if Jack is there."

Murray inclined his head and then sought out the radio. "Detective Makepeace. This is Murray. Is O'Neill with you?" He released the transmit button and only heard static in reply. "Makepeace?"

Suddenly, a voice came through. "Makepeace here. Yeah, O'Neill is here. What's happening?"

"Officer Hawkins is dead. He appears to have been killed by our assailant."

They could hear cursing coming over the radio and abruptly Jack's voice came through.

"What the hell is going on up there? Where's Daniel? Carter? How'd he get in?"

"Daniel Jackson is well. We have yet to locate Samantha Carter. And we do not know yet how the killer gained access. How is it that he entered the building at all?"

Jack looked from the radio to Makepeace who became defensive immediately. "Hey, don't look at me. My men and I have had around the clock surveillance since this plan took effect. If he got in, he got here before we ever arrived."

Jack shook his head and cut off a few choice words he wanted to hurl out at no one in particular. He jerked the radio back up. "Find Carter. Get the others together and relocate to the monitor room. Find out how they hell this guy got past everybody up there to take out yet another cop!" He didn't wait to hear a reply and threw the radio onto the table as he stormed out of the room, yelling over his shoulder as he left, "No one leaves this building, Makepeace. No one!"

Daniel and Murray located the doctor's lounge and found Carter safely asleep inside. They woke her up and filled her in on the events, her eyes widening at the implications.

"He's been here all along. He could have tried something at any time." She looked from one to the other.

Daniel frowned. "Possibly. But remember he studies things first. He took what he perceived as the best opportunity not necessarily the first one."

Jack burst through the door at that point, his gun drawn. All three nearly jumped out of their skins and weapons came up automatically. Jack pursed his lips as he faced down the three barrels. "So. I see you found Carter."

"Jack!" Daniel was relieved to see his friend alive even though he had just heard him on the radio. "You almost just got shot, you know," he said as he lowered his gun.

"Yeah. Times three no less. Everybody okay?"

"Everybody but Hawkins." Daniel explained to him what had happened as far as he knew or could surmise.

Jack scratched at his neck as he looked at Daniel. "You've been hunting a killer dressed like that?"

Daniel looked down at himself and realized for the first time he was still wearing his hospital gown. His very short, very thin, barely closed at the back, gown. His face flushed as it dawned on him that Sam was standing behind him presently. "I was a little more concerned with staying alive at the moment, thank you very much."

"Good point." Jack looked around the lounge and opened a few of the lockers. "Here. Put these on." He tossed Daniel some hospital scrubs. They averted their gaze long enough for him to slip the pants on. Then with some help from Sam because of his injuries, he managed to get the shirt on too.

"Okay, now what?" Daniel asked.

"Now we find out how our serial managed to get to Hawkins."

The four headed to the monitor room where they found heated discussions taking place. Jack stepped in and refereed the shouting match. Reynolds team swore that a nurse supplied their breakfast. She had asked the outside guard, Edwards, to help her carry the food in. No one had brought any food to the monitor room. No one saw anything out of the ordinary and no one tried to gain access to either room.

Daniel wasn't in his room when the food arrived so he had no idea who brought it in.

"Although.....," he started and then frowned.

"Yes?" Jack prompted.

"It may be nothing but when I left the room I saw a nurse and an orderly at the far end of the hall. Maybe they know something."

"Did the guy look familiar maybe?" Jack prompted again.

"He was too far away, Jack. I couldn't make out that kind of detail."

"Okay." Jack took his hat off and blew out a frustrated breath as he ran his hand through his hair. He put the cap back on and adjusted it. "Well, the setup is obviously blown. So this is what we do now. Break up into teams of two and search this floor, plus one above and one below. He isn't going to stray too far until he does what he came here for."

They headed out into the hall. "Reynolds and Simmons, one up. Pierce and Edwards, one down. Carter, you and Murray check the stairwell and west end of this floor. Daniel, you're with me. Everybody stay in radio contact." The groups began to disperse when Jack added, "Oh, and if anyone approaches you – shoot them."

~~

Jack and Daniel had finished their part of the floor and had returned to the nurse's station to wait on the others to return.

"How are we going to find this guy, Jack?" Daniel was weary. His wounds were beginning to ache even more and he just wanted to lie down. He eased himself into the chair at the nurse's desk.

"I don't know, Daniel. I was sure we had him this time." He leaned against the counter and looked down onto the desk. Then he blew out a breath and looked around at the equipment surrounding them. "What's that?" he gestured next to Daniel.

"This?" Daniel pointed to a row of colored buttons. "It's the call buttons for the patient's rooms."

"And that?"

Daniel set his gun on the desk and leaned back. "Looks like some kind of monitor for patients on heart monitors."

"Like you were?"

Daniel's brow furrowed. "Yes."

"So maybe he knew where you were after all."

"O'Neill." Murray's voice came crackling over the radio.

"O'Neill here. Whatcha got Murray?"

"We have uncovered nothing."

Jack shook his head. "Okay come on back to the nurse's station where Daniel and I are at."

"Understood."

"Damn."

The radio came alive again. "Reynolds here. We found the orderly who was mopping the floors. It's not him."

Jack felt like a sudden weight had settled on his shoulders instead of having lifted from them. "Okay, finish clearing your floor and head back here. Same goes to you Pierce."

"What now?" Daniel asked.

Jack thought for a moment then shook his head. "I got nothin'." He holstered his gun and moved over to the water cooler. He was filling a paper cup when he added, "Well, as a last resort I guess we could call in some dogs."

"Dogs, Jack?"

"Why not? There's a pretty good chance that he got blood on him when he killed Hawkins, right? So we track the blood scent, we find our killer."

Daniel pursed his lips. "Okayyy. Wouldn't he have washed it off by now or changed his clothes?"

"Probably. Criminals toss jackets while they're running or change clothes to commit a crime but they seldom take time to change shoes. People want to keep their comfort and you need that good fit if you're going to have to high-tail it out of somewhere. Can't have ill-fitting footwear be your downfall. If you ever get mugged, get a look at their shoes so you can ID them."

"I'll try to remember that." Daniel said with a wry grin.

Jack shrugged his shoulders. "I'm just saying. And by that same token, if any of Hawkins' blood got on the killers shoes, maybe we can trace him with the dogs."

"You're not serious."

"Why not? At this point, I'll take anything." Jack gulped the water down and bent over to get a refill. Out of the corner of his eye he saw something brightly colored that caught his attention. He stood upright and sipped on his second cup of water as he slowly moved over closer to the nurse's sweater closet. He saw a piece of material caught in the door near the floor. He bent down to look closer and noticed an odd looking stain on the carpet.

Daniel was looking at the papers on the nurse's desk and had picked up a pencil and began tapping it against the stack of folders. He looked up and saw a nurse at the far end of the hall stop and then slowly begin approaching them. She had a medical chart clutched to her chest. Daniel studied her as she came nearer.

"Daniel?"

He heard Jack's voice but he couldn't take his eyes off the figure heading towards them. Something didn't seem quite right about the walk. He stood up and took a few steps away from the desk to get a better look. Suddenly the nurse coughed and then lifted the chart to cover her mouth. In an instant Daniel flashed back to the cemetery with the killer grinning and covering his mouth with the bulletin. Then he flashed back to the hot dog vendor coughing and covering his mouth with the napkin. He turned with wide eyes to look at Jack and saw the open door of the closet, the nurse's body spilling out onto the floor at Jack's feet. He turned back to see the figure running at them and called out to Jack as he dove for his gun. Jack pulled out his weapon and stepped forward, leveling it at the killer as he gave warning but she/he refused to stop. Instead, the medical chart was dropped and the butcher's blade was raised as the killer screamed in rage and rushed at Jack. Daniel's hand reached his gun as he heard the first shot Jack fired. He spun around to see the killer still advancing on Jack so he raised his weapon to add to Jack's volley of bullets. The body jerked and snatched as each slug entered until the guns were empty and the killer finally collapsed in a heap a few feet in front of Jack.

Carter and Murray came racing up behind them and Daniel spun around, gun leveled their way. They halted and he lowered the weapon instantly, it dawning on him at the same time how useless an empty gun would have been. Radio chatter broke the silence as both Reynolds and Pierce bellowed into the devices, trying to evaluate the situation from the gunshots they had heard. Makepeace had been listening in to the radio frequency and could be heard ordering his men to the scene. Carter grabbed her radio and advised the officers of the situation as she watched Murray approach the body. Jack continued to stare at it, his empty gun hanging down by his side. Daniel moved forward and watched as Murray pulled the wig off the man's head. It was amazing what a wig and makeup could do. The killer's moldable face had been given a new persona for the day. The other officers arrived followed shortly by Makepeace's men. The CSI unit was called to the scene to verify that Hawkins' murder and the nurse's death were both the work of the serial and to provide an evaluation of the killer's death for the internal investigation that would eventually qualify it as a good shoot.

Jack continued to stand next to the body surveying it. Daniel walked up and stood next to him. "He must have slipped in before your plan was put into place, Jack. He had to have hidden somewhere while he located us. Then probably killed the nurse sometime this morning after the shift change. When he delivered breakfast to the room you were supposed to be in and found you weren't there, it probably enraged him. That's most likely why when he couldn't find you in my room either, he killed Hawkins. In his eyes, no one was where they were supposed to be."

"Yeah. Most likely."

"What is it, Jack? What are you looking at?"

Jack pointed to the dead killer's feet. "Cross-trainers. Must be his. Definitely not hospital regulation."

Daniel smiled softly. "So, you were right."

"People don't give up their shoes, Danny."

Daniel looked to Jack. "I'd rather not stay here in the hospital if there's any way it can be arranged for me to go to the hotel. But I confess, I could really use some pain meds right about now." He winced as he leaned back against the desk.

Jack nodded and looked up to see Hammond approaching them. "Word is out over the radios, Jack. Good job. We ran a background on the guy. He'd been fired a couple of months ago from a meat packing company. Seems the head of their human resources department is missing by the way." Jack's eyebrow rose and Hammond nodded. "I know. We've got some people there now checking out the equipment for human contaminants. It could be we've just located the original 'dumping ground' of his earlier victims."

Carter spoke up. "Did you find anything at his place that indicated why he chose the people he did?"

"Well, it appears that he kept a trophy box filled with something from each victim. We found the estate agent's keys, the lawyer's briefcase, a money-clip with the financial advisors initials, Kawalsky's gun, Elliot's badge and a cell phone that belonged to the company vice-president. We also found a gold ball point pen and a few other items we have no idea who they belong to."

Daniel reflected for a moment. "Power. They are all items related to the power or authority the victims possessed when they were alive. Identify the kind of authority the item represents and you can narrow down your search."

"But how did he come into contact with all these different people?" Carter asked.

"In the parks, on the sidewalks." Daniel turned to Jack. "He was the hotdog vendor that you bought your lunch from that day we headed to forensics. The day you introduced Kawalsky and me to each other on the street. The day Kawalsky told us about meeting informants and wishing he could get his hands on the killer."

Jack's eyes widened. "He listened in on conversations. People never paid him any attention." He looked back at Daniel. "The guy that's there but never really seen."

Daniel nodded. "He was a true chameleon, Jack. He blended in everywhere precisely because he fit in nowhere. He moved that cart around the city and probably overheard legal cases, financial mergers, hirings, firings, and who knows what that triggered him. He'd see these people day after day, some were probably even his customers."

"Like me." Jack murmured.

"Like you. He saw in you his ultimate prize, Jack. Because not only did you have power over others, you had power over him. That's why he started laying the bodies at your doorstep so to speak. To pull you into the game. For him to survive, you would ultimately have to die."

Jack shook his head. "Well, I've had enough for today. Requesting permission for some time off, Lieutenant Hammond."

"You got it Jack. You and your whole team. We've got enough temporary staff in to help with the coverage for a few more days." He patted Jack on the shoulder and nodded at the others before he walked over to speak to Makepeace and the other officers who had worked on the case.

"Well, kids. Who's up for pizza and beer tonight at my place to celebrate the end of this nightmare?"

Carter smiled. "Sounds good. I'd like to go home, grab a shower and a quick nap first."

"Indeed." Murray tiredly echoed the sentiment.

"Daniel? You gonna join us?"

"I'm invited?"

"Sure you are. You're part of the team."

"Think they'll really let me out of here?"

"I'll get Hammond to pull some strings. We'll load you up on meds, take you to the hotel for a shower and quick change. Then you can nap in my guest room until the others arrive while I grab a shower."

"Sounds good to me then."

"Great. Carter, Murray. See you kids around 6:30. Come on, Daniel. Let's get you out of here."

After much wrangling and many promises, Jack ushered Daniel with a bag of medicines to his truck. Silence filled the vehicle as they headed towards the hotel. Daniel studied the scenery passing by the side window as Jack focused forward.

Jack cleared his throat. "Uh, Daniel. You ever give relocation much thought?"

Daniel snorted. "You mean because they let any riff-raff into the hotel?"

Jack smiled. "No, I wasn't talking about the hotel. I was thinking more in the lines of leaving the FBI and joining a top-notch detective squad."

Daniel's eyebrows climbed to the top of his head. "Are you serious?"

"I wouldn't offer if I wasn't, Daniel. We could use you on our team. You definitely have the credentials for the position." He glanced at Daniel. "Look, I know you've been unhappy at the FBI for a while. Feretti filled me in. Maybe it's time for a change. I can promise you most of our cases are nothing like this one."

"God I hope not. What about Sam and Teal'c? What do they think?"

"They want to know when you're going to start work." Jack grinned.

"And Hammond?"

"He's good with it. I imagine everyone right up to the mayor will be too."

Daniel shook his head in disbelief at the generous offer. These people felt like family. It would be so easy to join in with them.

"Well?" Jack prompted.

"I'm not sure. I mean, I'm very honored but I probably should think about it some."

"What's to think about? What's holding you at the FBI? We've been through a lot, the four of us. We're family now."

Daniel smiled at the phrase. "You're one very persistent man."

"And you're one very stubborn one. So how about it?"

"Do I get to pick the toppings on the pizza?"

Jack grinned. "Only if you say yes to joining our squad."

Daniel chewed at his lower lip as though in deep contemplation but Jack saw the amused spark flash in the blue eyes. "I guess if I have to give an answer now....then I'll take everything on my pizza except anchovies, please."

Jack laughed and his grin widened. Wait until he told the kids tonight the good news. Celebration time indeed.

Next: Undercover Connections