Two years later...

[dr_daniel_jackson]

He woke to the feel of something hot and rough beneath his skin and a burning wind across the rest of his body. When he opened his eyes, he quickly closed them again when something stinging blew into them. He shivered and burned at the same time as he lay there. It grew hotter and the wind died down. He worked to open his eyes again and found it didn't hurt quite so much.

"Daniel..." a voice whispered nearby. Daniel. Who was that? Was that him? He didn't know. He looked around but didn't see where the voice was coming from. "Daniel... come... we are losing day light and we must hurry." He shook his head and sat up slowly, still looking to find the owner of that voice. It was soft, inviting, a feminine. As he pushed to his feet he felt something wrap around him and he blinked as he saw a woman standing before him. "Well, you're younger than I'd planned but no matter. You're healthy and whole once more. Your memory will return slowly but I know the old one will take care of you no matter what. He has grieved for your loss these two years. But he waits for you at your homestead. But we must hurry. Once the sun leaves the sky the temperature drops rapidly and you are not well dressed for such an environment."

"You called me Daniel. Is that my name?" The woman nodded as they began to walk through the desert sand. "Where are we?"

"I believe you call this place Egypt, Daniel. And we are going to your home where your husband is waiting for you."

"My... " he trailed off and frowned as if trying to remember who his husband was and how he'd come to have one. "I feel strange."

"It took me longer than I'd hoped to bring you back and I seemed to have somehow made you younger than you were when you last ascended. You still look the same for the most part but your body is almost fifteen years younger than it was when you came to us."

Daniel didn't say anything further to that, following the woman through the desert until they approached a rock wall with a gate. She led him through the gate and up the walkway towards a beautiful house.

"I live here?" he asked softly. The woman nodded as they reached the door. She knocked quietly then turned to Daniel.

"Be patient now, Daniel. He is coming... and he has missed you terribly..."

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[really-oldguy.livejournal.com]

Most years for Methos seemed to pass so quickly. But the past two had been torture. Everyday he'd wonder if today might be the day or if it had all been a lie. Daniel had seemed so sure that he'd return and had trusted this Oma.

But Methos had been alive so long, he'd learned that hope tended to end poorly.

He'd spent the past two years in Cairo, as promised. He hadn't wanted to stay in Daniel's estate, but knew that if he did... perhaps he would see Daniel again more quickly. But ever day served as a constant reminder of his absence. This home every piece in it. The occasional writing and translation. Each reminder ate at his soul. Methos didn't work anywhere in town. He barely left the house, but for food.

The only outlet he had was his sword work. He'd spend hour just going through kata after kata until he was so tired that he had to pass out. It was the only thing that took his mind off the pain.

He was taking a midday nap on the couch after one such exhausting workout session when he heard the knock. Methos blinked. No one came here. No one visited.

Methos' hand went for his sword. He didn't feel any Quickening. He cracked open the door to see who it was. His sword clattered to the floor and he let the door swing open. His eyes were only for Daniel and not his Ancient companion.

"Daniel..."