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CHAPTER SIX

Both Daniel and Sam were a little quiet and subdued the next day, the thought that they'd be arriving home tomorrow never far from their minds.  That night, their last night onboard, they made love very slowly, savoring each touch, every kiss.

The odyssey reached Earth late in the afternoon the next day.  Taking a transport from its hanger at Area 51, Vala and the three members of SG-1 arrived at Stargate Command in the early evening.  They were in the briefing room a short while later, along with Teal'c, where they debriefed General Landry on the mission and handed in their reports.

"So, you managed to bag an Ori ship in the process, huh?" the general said, pleased by the mission's success.

Cameron smiled.  "Yes, sir.  And with the Supergate now no longer available for them to use, they won't be able to send any more ships through."

"Unless they build another gate," Daniel pointed out.

Landry turned to him.  "About this stuff with Morgan Le Fay.  She didn't give you any specific information on those two planets?"

"No.  She knew that she was under constant observation by the other Ascended and that if she said too much, they'd stop her."

"Which is exactly what they did in the end."

Daniel's gaze dropped to the table.  "Yeah.  She stepped over the line."

"Any idea on what will happen to her?"

Daniel shook his head.  "I suppose it's possible that they'll go easy on her.  Her transgression wasn't as big as mine was when I went after Anubis.  Also, she's one of the Ancients, one of the original Ascended.  I have to hope that will hold some weight with the others."

The general nodded.  "We'll send MALPs to the two planets tomorrow, see what things look like."  He picked up a file folder.  "It's been busy here in this galaxy while you've been gone.  This is the list of the most recent planets that we know have been attacked by the Ori forces or have accepted Origin.  It's alarmingly long."

"May I see it?" Daniel asked.  He was handed the file.  His eyes skimmed down the list, recognizing some of the planet names or designations.  Then he came to one that made him draw in a sharp breath, his body stiffening.

"Daniel, what is it?" Sam asked.

"M25-432, the planet we moved Shamda and his people to."

"Oh no.  Did they. . . ."

Daniel closed the file.  "They went Origin."

"Then at least they're still alive.  There's still hope for them."

Daniel nodded, not looking at her.  He got to his feet.  "If you will excuse me, General, I, um, have some things I want to get done."

"Certainly."

Everyone watched the archeologist leave.

"Who's Shamda?" Vala asked.

"He and his people took Jackson in after he descended without any memories," Cameron explained.  "He lived with them for two months.  That was on Vis Uban.  Before luring Anubis there as part of the plan to destroy his superweapon, the SGC moved the people to another planet so that they'd be safe."

"Daniel Jackson would have strong feelings for the people of Vis Uban," Teal'c said.

"Yeah," Sam murmured.  She looked at Landry.  "Um, sir, permission to—"

"You're dismissed," he interrupted.  "That goes for all of you.  Go on home and get something to eat and a good nights' sleep.  The next few days are probably going to be pretty busy."

Sam went straight to Daniel's office.  The only light on was the desk lamp.  Daniel was sitting half in shadow at the desk, staring at something in his hands.  As Sam approached, he glanced at her, then quickly turned away, blinking away the tears in his eyes.  He set the object in his hand on the desktop.  It was a small figurine of a monkey.

"Shamda gave that to me before we said goodbye for the last time," Daniel murmured.  He smiled very faintly.  "His favorite proverb was one about dancing monkeys.  The moral of the story was that appearances could be deceiving.  He told me that, when they found me lying naked in those ruins with no memories of who I was or where I came from, some people might have dismissed me as a crazy guy not worth their effort.  He said that, despite first appearances, he knew that there was something important about me and what had happened to me."  His gaze dropped to his lap.  "His must despise having to live under the laws of the Ori, being forced to do and say only the things they allow.  His people are nomads, used to being free to go where they please, to do what they want, believe the things they want.  I wonder why they didn't just leave after the Prior came, go someplace else."

"Maybe they couldn't.  The Prior might have done something to the DHD to prevent them from leaving."  Sam came forward and crouched before him.  She looked up into his face, trying to meet his eyes, which he kept turned away from her.  "I know how much this must be hurting, Daniel, but at least they're alive.  They didn't put up a fight.  Shamda was smart.  He knew that the important thing was to keep his people alive."

Daniel nodded, trying to look on the bright side.  Sam was right.  They were alive, and as long as they were, there was some hope.

Sam got to her feet.  "Come on.  Let's go out to dinner somewhere.  Then you can come to my place."

Daniel finally looked at her, smiling slightly.  "Shall I pack an overnight bag?" he asked in a low voice, not wanting some passerby to hear.

Sam smiled.  "That might be a wise precaution."

They went to a casual restaurant to eat.  Sam tried her best to lighten Daniel's mood but was only partially successful.  After dinner, he went to his place and took care of a few things before packing a bag and going to Sam's.

They did not make love that night, Daniel only wanting to hold Sam.  He did not sleep well, thoughts of the people who had generously given him a home when he had absolutely nothing else preying on his mind.

When they got up the next morning, Sam could tell that Daniel hadn't gotten much sleep.  There were no smiles as they got dressed, and she hated it.  Ever since she and Daniel became lovers, he had been like a different person, happy, playful, almost carefree.  Now, with this newest piece of terrible news, that happy Daniel was gone.  She knew that he was still blaming himself for the scourge of the Ori.  Knowing that the people who had clothed and sheltered him for two months of his life were now virtual slaves of the evil ascended beings was, no doubt, making him feel even more guilty.  Dammit.  Why did this have to happen?  Why, of all planets, did it have to be that one.

Sam mentally shook her head.  A lot of people on a lot of worlds were suffering because of the Ori.  Shamda and his people were simply more to add to the list, a list that would keep growing unless they could find a way to stop the Ori and their followers.

The first MALP was sent out shortly after Daniel and Sam arrived at the SGC.  It revealed a world with a thick, toxic atmosphere.

"Any teams we send there are going to have to wear Hazmat suits," Sam said.  "And the particulates in the atmosphere will greatly reduce visibility.  It may take a while to search the place."

"I want that air analyzed to make sure that it's not going to do something nasty, like slowly eat its way through the suits or clog up the breathing apparatus," Landry said.  "Which world is this?"

"Castiana," Daniel replied.

"All right.  Let's roll up another MALP and send it out to the other planet."

The MALP feed from Sahal showed nothing but dense forests under the cover of darkness.  Seeing that it was night there, Landry gave an order for the gate to be dialed up again in a few hours.

Daniel went to his office and got to work.  He hadn't been there long when Cameron showed up.

"So, when are you going to tell Landry?" the pilot asked.

"Sam and I haven't discussed it yet.  We've been a little preoccupied with other things."

"Well, just don't take too long.  The last thing you want is for someone else to find out first and blab to the general.  That would not be a good thing.  I know that you stayed at Sam's last night."

Daniel glared at him.  "Are you spying on us?"

"No.  I called your home number last night and got no answer.  I just put two and two together."

"Well, don't worry.  We'll talk to the general soon."

Cam smiled slightly.  "And Teal'c?  I want to be there when you tell him.  I'm bringing a yardstick along to see how high his eyebrow goes."

"Sorry, but you and the yardstick will have to sit it out.  Sam and I will be telling Teal'c in private."

"Damn, Jackson.  You're stealing all my fun."

After the pilot left, Daniel decided to go to Sam's lab.  He told her about the conversation.

"I guess we really shouldn't put it off," she said with a sigh.  "Cam is right that if someone found out and told Landry first, it could cause trouble."

Daniel nodded.  "So, which of us should do the talking?"

"I'll do it.  I think that would be best."

They headed to the general's office.  After a short wait for Landry to get off the phone, he called them in.

"Do you have some new information?" he asked.

"Um, no, sir," Sam replied nervously.  "This is . . . something personal."

Landry's eyebrows lifted slightly.  "Personal?  All right.  Sit down, then."

The two scientists took a seat.  They glanced at each other, then turned back to the general.

"It, uh, has to do with me and Daniel," Sam said.  "We've, um. . . .  There's been a . . . a change in our . . . relationship."

"Your relationship?"  Landry looked back and forth between them.  "Colonel, don't tell me that you two are. . . ."

"Yes, sir," Sam responded, squirming a bit in her seat.

The general gaped at them.  "When the hell did this happen?"

"On the trip back.  Well, actually, it started on Atlantis, but, uh. . . ."  Sam blushed.

Landry ran a hand across his face.  "Colonel Carter, with all the things on my plate, the last thing I need is to find out that two members of SG-1 are now doing something with each other that they both know they shouldn't be, although I suppose I should be grateful that it's not you and Colonel Mitchell.  At least this isn't breaking a dozen regulations.  Even so, I'm not sure if I can allow both of you to remain on SG-1."

Daniel spoke up.  "Sir, I understand where you're coming from, but Sam and I can handle this.  We're going to do everything we can to make sure that our relationship does not affect our jobs or how we perform on missions.  All we're asking is that you give us a chance to prove ourselves."

"Does Mitchell know about this?"

"Yes, sir," Sam replied.

"And what are his views on it?"

Daniel was the one who answered.  "He said that he was fine with it as long as it didn't cause a problem on duty."

Landry sat in silence, staring at them.  Their nervousness had gone up several more notches by the time he spoke again.

"All right.  For now, I'll leave things as they are.  But you two are on probation.  If I suspect that there is any trouble, one of you is off SG-1.  Got it?"

Daniel and Sam both relaxed.

"Yes, sir," Sam replied.  "Thank you, General."

"You do realize that I'm going to have to tell General O'Neill about this."

Daniel and Sam both made a face and shared another glanced.

"Yes, we know," the archeologist replied, sounding resigned.

"He is going to flip."

"Oh, that's for sure."

"You're dismissed.  Shut the door on your way out."

Once the door was closed behind the scientists, Landry picked up the phone and began dialing.  A familiar voice answered on the third ring.

"Hey, Jack.  Are you sitting down?"

There was a brief pause.  "No.  Should I be?"

"It might be wise."

"Ooookaay.  Hold on."  The line went silent for a few seconds.  "All right, I am now sitting down.  Hit me with it.  Did the president take up knitting?  The Asgard started a cabaret?  The Priors are handing out flowers and peace signs and singing Kumbaya around group campfires?"

"Doctor Jackson and Colonel Carter are sleeping together."

Silence.  Utter, complete silence.  It went on so long that Landry wondered if they'd gotten disconnected.

"Come again?" Jack finally asked.  "There must be something wrong with this connection, because I could have sworn you just said that. . . ."

"Jackson and Carter are sleeping with each other," Landry repeated.

"Yeah, that's what it sounded like you said.  Have you been drinking, Hank?"

"Not yet, but I'm going to once I get off-duty."

"Daniel and Carter."

"Yes."

"Are having sex."

"Well, not at this moment . . . or at least I hope not."

There was another silence.  "I'm still waiting for the punch line, Hank."

"Well, you're going to be waiting a long time, Jack, because this is no joke.  They just left my office a few minutes ago after telling me.  It started on Atlantis."

"And what was their excuse?  The moon shining romantically on that big, blue ocean?"

"We didn't go into details about the why and how.  I'm as shocked by this as you are, Jack.  Well, okay, maybe not quite as shocked.  I haven't known them as long as you have."

Jack muttered something unintelligible.  "You know, they've both done things that weren't all that bright, especially Daniel, but this . . . this takes the cake.  What are you going to do about their teammate status?"

"For now, they're on probation.  I'm going to see how things go.  I'd really rather not lose either of them off the team.  Jackson's knowledge and skills are vital out there in this fight with the Ori, and Carter's skills are equally as important.  Sure, I could put one of them on a different SG team, but the two of them together is one of the biggest parts of what makes SG-1 so effective."

"I can't argue with you on that."  There was once again silence over the line.  "I am having a tough time wrapping my brain around this.  I'd never have expected this."

"Neither would I.  So, when can we expect you to arrive?"

"What makes you think I'm coming over there?"

Landry snorted.  "You're kidding, right?"

"Tomorrow.  I'll get a morning transport out."

"I'll be looking forward to it . . . although I doubt that Jackson and Carter will be enjoying it."


When the gate on Sahal was dialed again, dawn appeared to be breaking over the trees.  They could still only see forest.  If there were any habitations or ruins, they were beyond the view of the MALP.

"All right, we'll send a team through to check the immediate area," Landry said.  He turned to Sam.  "What's the word on the air on the other planet?"

"There's nothing corrosive in the atmosphere, but there is some concern about the high particulate count.  We've got some scientists working on an extra filtering system to add to the Hazmat suits.  They should have it ready by tomorrow morning.  Even so, I'd recommend that the team we send not go too terribly far from the gate."

"Agreed."  Landry looked at Daniel.  "So, what are the odds that Merlin's weapon is on that planet?"

"Well, we don't know how long the atmosphere has been like that.  It could be a relatively recent change.  If Merlin created the Sangraal back in the time that the legend of Arthur took place, that was some fifteen hundred years ago.  There could have been some kind of cataclysm that took place on the planet since then."

"Well, if the Sangraal was there, let's just hope that it wasn't destroyed in the same cataclysm."

"Will SG-1 be going through to one of the planets, sir?" Cameron asked.

"No, you'll be staying here, Colonel.  The teams could be out for days, and I don't want you tied up for that long, not when Jackson's knowledge of the Ancients or the Ori might suddenly be urgently needed.  Besides," Landry turned to Daniel and Sam.  "We're going to be getting a visitor tomorrow."

"Visitor, sir?" Cam inquired.

Daniel let out a groan.  "It's Jack, isn't it."

The general smiled ever so slightly.  "You got it."

"For what purpose is O'Neill coming?" Teal'c asked.

Cameron grinned and clapped the Jaffa on the shoulder.  "That's something Jackson and Sam aren't going to be able to put off telling you any longer."

"Ooh.  Can I watch?" Vala asked eagerly.

"No!" Daniel and Sam both replied adamantly, which resulted in a pout from the black-haired woman.

"Come on, Teal'c," Daniel said.  "Let's go to my office."

He, Sam and the Jaffa went to the office, Daniel shutting the door once they got there.  He had to wonder if Vala would come and try to listen in through it.

"What is this concerning?" Teal'c asked.

"It's concerning Sam and I," Daniel answered.  "We're, um . . . we're in a relationship now."

Teal'c stared at them.  "You speak of a sexual relationship."

The two scientists shifted uncomfortably.

"Uh . . . yeah," Daniel said.

"I see."

It was their turn to stare.

"You're not surprised?" Sam asked.

"I am only mildly surprised.  I have long thought that, if you were to have such a relationship, it would bring mutual satisfaction and contentment.  I merely believed that, since such a great length of time has passed, it would not take place."

"Teal'c, are you saying that you thought Daniel and I would make a good couple?"

The Jaffa nodded once.  "Indeed."

Both Sam and Daniel blinked in surprise.

"Well, I guess Mitchell wouldn't have needed the yardstick," the archeologist remarked.

"For what purpose would Colonel Mitchell have needed such a measuring device?" Teal'c asked.

"Um . . . never mind."

"Is O'Neill coming to speak with you about your relationship?"

"That's what I'm assuming, though I don't know how much discussing will be going on.  Personally, I'm expecting more yelling and tasteless, ill-humored remarks."


When Daniel and Sam both went home that evening, the team that had been sent to Sahal still hadn't found anything.  It appeared that the forest was pretty extensive.  They had discussed sending a UAV up, but it wouldn't work launching it through the Stargate because it would never clear the trees.  Sam came up with the idea of sending through a small, remote-controlled helicopter outfitted with video equipment that the team could use to take a look over the trees.  The problem was finding someone at the SGC with the skills to fly it.

The couple decided it would be best not to get together that night.  Besides, after being gone for over a month, both of their places were in dire need of some dusting, and there was a big pile of mail and a whole lot of email to go through.  At least they didn't have to clear out their refrigerators, both of them having gotten rid of the perishable contents before they left for Atlantis.

It was almost eleven o'clock when Daniel's phone rang.  He looked at the caller ID and smiled as he picked up the receiver.

"Hi.  I miss you, too," he said.

Sam gave a little laugh.  "Pathetic, isn't it.  We both got too used to being with each other."

"Yes, well, just wait until we go to bed.  That bed of mine is going to feel really empty."

"Tell me about it."  Sam paused.  "What are we going to say to General O'Neill tomorrow?"

"I have no idea.  You know he's going to ask us how and why it happened."

"Yes, that's what I'm afraid of."

"We could plead the fifth," Daniel suggested.

"You could, but I don't have that luxury.  He can order me to talk."

"Do you think he'd do that?"

"I honestly don't know.  We can't claim it's private and say it's none of his business, not when this thing may affect SG-1."

Daniel sighed.  "I guess we're just going to have to deal with it the best we can."

"Yeah."  Sam paused.  "Well, I'll let you get to bed.  See you in the morning."

"Good night, Sam.  Sweet dreams."

"You too."

Disconnecting the call, Daniel got up and headed off to the bedroom and its big, empty bed.


The two teams for the mission to Castiana, dressed in their Hazmat suits and outfitted with all kinds of emergency equipment and spare oxygen, left at ten o'clock the next morning.  They reported that the new filters seemed to be working well.  One team would be remaining close to the gate, while the other one did a recon of the area.  In that way, if the recon team got into trouble, the other team would be there to dial the gate for help.

The miniature helicopter had been sent through the gate to the team on Sahal, along with a lieutenant who had experience working with radio-controlled model airplanes and helicopters.

Daniel and Sam were not in the control room to watch all this going on.  They were too busy stressing out about Jack's visit.  Mitchell wasn't helping any in that regard, having made a couple of remarks at breakfast that the scientists didn't find the least bit amusing.

It was shortly before lunch when Jack arrived.  He went to say hi to Landry first.

"So, are they expecting me?" he asked.

"Like prisoners on death row expecting the executioner."

"Well, I won't keep them waiting, then."

"Don't be too brutal."

Jack headed to Daniel's office.  He found the archeologist at his desk, staring at a stone tablet.

"Hello, Daniel."

The younger man sighed softly and turned to him.  "Jack."

"Carter's not here, I see."

"No, she's waiting for you to summon her."

"Ah.  Well, how about if you and I have a private little chat first?  We can get her involved later."  Jack shut the door, then came forward.  He grabbed a chair and wheeled it over.  He straddled it, arms resting on the backrest.  "So."

"So."

"You and Carter, huh."

"Yep."

"And what lunacy, may I ask, led to this?  Something you inhaled perhaps?"

Daniel sighed again.  "We were both of sound mine and body . . . sort of."

Jack's eyebrows lifted inquiringly.  "Sort of?"

"It wasn't planned, Jack.  It just . . . happened."

"And just kept right on happening?" Jack said snidely.

Daniel jumped out of his chair and walked around the desk.  "What do you want me to say, Jack?  A month ago, I'd never have expected this to happen.  But it did happen, and, now, it's . . . it's come to mean something to me.  She makes me feel good, Jack.  For the first time in almost ten years, I actually have something in my life that makes me smile every day.  I know you're not happy about this, but it makes me happy.  Maybe you don't care about that, but—"

"Hey," Jack interrupted, standing up.  "I care, Daniel.  You and I may have had our differences over the years, but I do care.  You should know that."

Daniel's gaze dropped to the floor briefly, then returned to his friend.  "I'm sorry.  I shouldn't have said that."

"You're right that I'm not particularly pleased about this, but if it really does make you and Carter happy, then I'm not gonna be an ass about it and tell you to knock it off.  But then, you wouldn't listen to me anyway if I did, and this would probably be the one time that Carter would disobey an order and tell me to go to hell."

Jack watched Daniel wander away to one of the bookshelves.  "Do you love her?" he asked.

Daniel's whole body went stiff, tension coming off him like heat from a radiator.

"Love isn't . . . it's not about love," he said, his voice as tense as his body.

Jack frowned.  "It's not?  What is it about, then, Daniel?  Sex?"

The archeologist spun around.  "No!  It's not just about sex.  I care about Sam.  She means a great deal to me.  I-I just . . . I can't. . . ."  Daniel's voice trailed off helplessly.  He turned away again.

Though Jack never saw himself as the brightest guy in the world, he also wasn't stupid, despite the act he often put on.

"You can't let yourself love again," he guessed, knowing he was right.

"Please, Jack," Daniel pleaded.  "Just drop it, okay?"

The grey-haired man gazed at his friend.  "It's been seven years since she died, Daniel.  When are you going to let Sha're go?"

Daniel closed his eyes.  "I have let her go, Jack.  It took a long, long time, but I finally let her go.  I just can't ever go through that again.  I can't."  His breath caught.  "It hurt . . . so much.  I don't think I could take it if it ever happened again."

"And why are you so certain it would happen again?"

"I just . . . can't take that chance."

"So, you live the rest of your life keeping yourself locked away from loving someone?  That's a pretty damn lonely way to live, Daniel.  Take that from someone who knows.  And what about Sam?  Is it fair to her?"

"Sam's happy with the way things are between us."

"Are you sure about that?"

A trace of anger crept into Daniel's voice.  "Well, I guess you'll just have to ask her, won't you."

"I'm not the one who should be doing the asking."

Daniel began getting defensive.  "It's my life, Jack.  Sam and I have something good together.  We make each other happy.  We make each other forget all the horrible things that are in our lives.  On the trip back, ever since she and I got together, I barely thought about the Ori at all.  Before then, not a day went by that I didn't think about them.  Not a day went by that I didn't feel like. . . ."  He shook his head and turned away again.

Jack recognized that he needed to back off, though there was more that he wanted to say.

"All right, Daniel."  He headed for the door.

"Aren't you going to talk to Sam?" the archeologist asked.

"Maybe.  I don't want to get her pissed off at me.  I think about the science experiment things she could do to me, and it's damn scary."

That almost made Daniel smile.

Jack met the younger man's eyes.  "I hope things work out well with you and Carter, Daniel.  I really do mean that.  Just remember one thing.  Sometimes, the thing we hide from the most is the one thing we should let find us."

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