Disclaimer: I don't own any Stargate Intellectual property. This is written for fun, not money. That said, this is my story so please don't take it without attribution.
Notes: This story takes place in Season 8. The first few chapters are some time after Icon (not that that's important), and then it jumps forward a little to after Endgame (which is important). And because I'm the writer and can do what I want (without paying the cast), Janet is alive. Oh and the story title is just something funny I came up with a few minutes ago because I couldn't think of a good title (and Portal references are the in thing). Anyhow, on with the story!

Chapter 1 – The Dare

Daniel leaned back in his chair with a smile, having finished the last of his spicy food. Then he remembered why he was here and his expression turned serious. He cleared his throat and addressed the woman sitting opposite. "Janet, you said you had something you needed to tell me."

"Oh. That." Janet had almost forgotten the reason for this meeting. The meal had been accompanied by friendly conversation about their pasts, and veiled comments about their work. They couldn't exactly talk about what went on under Cheyenne Mountain in public, but they could still laugh about their experiences without being specific.

"Well? Are you sure it's nothing bad?"

"I don't think it is. Actually, it's not anything vital, just something I thought I should say."

"It's something I've been wondering about all evening," Daniel prodded, managing not to sound too impatient.

"Yes, well..." Janet wondered how she'd got herself into this mess, and thought back to how it all started.

Earlier that day, after an off-world mission...

"And that's the last of them," Doctor Janet Frasier proclaimed as she set down her instruments and began to clean up.

Sam Carter looked at the row of tiny stitches that now graced her hand. "Neat job," she complimented.

"I've had a lot of practice on Daniel," the base CMO explained ruefully. "How did he escape unscathed this time?"

"Oh, he got lucky for a change."

"It can't last. I'm sure he'll be in here being patched up within a few days." Janet almost seemed hopeful.

"The post-mission checkup isn't enough Daniel time for you?" Sam teased.

"Daniel time? He's one of my worst behaved patients! I was meaning that I'm glad to be rid of him so soon today," Janet protested. However, she knew it wasn't true, and this was obvious to her audience.

Sam shook her head. "Nope, that's not what you meant. Otherwise you might let one of the nurses do his checkup."

"Daniel's too valuable for that. I need to do those myself," Janet reasoned.

"Jealous."

"Sam!"

"Why don't you ask him out to dinner, since you can't wait for him to be back in the infirmary?"

"Why doesn't he ask me?" Janet shot back.

"Janet, you know how oblivious he can be."

"Point."

"But you want him to, don't you? So you might as well do it yourself."

"I don't think he... his wife... well..."

"It's been years since all that happened. You're just making excuses," Sam answered. "Which is proof that you want it. I know you were beyond simple concern when he was trapped off-world after that war he tried to stop. Ask him out while you're both still alive."

"Alright, I'll ask him out. On one condition." Janet gave a sneaky smile.

"Now that's just mean!"

Janet shook her head. "Fair's fair. I'm only doing this if you do something too."

"Fine, what is it?"

"There's a line in your medical file marked with the highest confidentiality. It's been puzzling me for years. I want the details."

"I... okay It's a deal, so long as you go first."

Janet nodded. "Fair enough." She pulled out her pen and wrote a quick note. "You're free to go. Here's a prescription from some antibiotics for the next couple of days. See me if there are any signs of infection. Oh, and sent Daniel back in. There's a small matter I need to discuss with him."

"I'll be sure to tell him," Sam answered, winking.

A little later Daniel poked his head (figuratively) back into the infirmary. Janet quickly spotted him and waved him over. "You wanted to see me?" he asked. As he'd already been cleared, he was curious as to why he had been asked to return.

"Yes, Daniel. There's a matter I need to discuss with you in private."

"A... matter?"

She didn't want him to worry. "Oh, nothing bad. Just personal. Could we meet somewhere off the base?"

"Ahh..." He didn't understand why she was asking, but he certainly didn't mind. "Sure, we can do that."

"Are you free for dinner tonight?"

"Dinner? I suppose I can if I leave my translations until tomorrow..."

"Daniel, dinner time isn't in work hours. You shouldn't be translating anything except menus until tomorrow," she reminded.

"Oh. Yes, you're right. How does Thai sound?"

"You don't need to dress up... oh, Thai food. Sounds good."

"There's that new place..."

"Which has been open for two years," Janet pointed out. Daniel had missed a few things while ascended and still hadn't qutite caught up.

"True. See you at, say, seven?"

"Seven it is."

Daniel nodded and returned to his lab with a mixture of anticipation and anxiety.

Back in the present...

"Hellooo, Janet?" called a familiar voice from somewhere nearby.

"Wha?"

"You kinda zoned out for a few moments there," Daniel's concerned voice explained.

"Sorry, I was... thinking."

"It's that bad?"

"What is?"

"What you're about to tell me."

"No, no. It's just difficult. Um, this was good. Dinner. I mean, with you."

"Yes?" Daniel was now completely lost. "What are you saying?"

"I'd like to do this again, if you'd like to."

"Kill me with suspense again? I'd rather not if I can help it."

"No Daniel, I meant us going out for dinner."

Daniel blinked several times, trying to sort out what she was saying. "You're asking me on a... date?"

"Another date."

"This is a date? I thought it was two co-workers having dinner for the purpose of you telling me something."

"That was just an excuse."

"You mean you don't have something to tell me?"

"I did; that was it."

"What was?"

"I... I asked you out to dinner to ask you on a date," Janet finally admitted.

"Oh. Why?"

"Well... Sam pestered me, and... I've been wanting to for, well, years."

"Sam put you up to this?"

"She provided enough incentive for me to ask. Not that going out with you isn't incentive enough, but..."

"But?"

Janet sighed. "The typical paradox of being afraid to ask for fear of being turned down."

"Is that why you used the excuse of needing to tell me something in private?"

The medical doctor nodded slowly. "I wanted to avoid the pressure of this being a date, to see if it would work."

"Next time you do something like that, find a way to do it without leaving me wondering all night whether I have only a week to live," Daniel requested.

"I said it was nothing bad."

"And I tell you I'm fine when I'm obviously not," Daniel argued.

"I can't believe you actually admitted that!" Janet exclaimed with a laugh. "When Cassie hears about this..."

"Please don't tell anyone I said that!" Daniel begged.

"What do I get out out it?"

"I won't tell Sam that you tricked me into a date," he answered cleverly.

There was no way Janet wanted Sam to find out about that. She might try using it to get out of their arrangement. "Deal."

"By the way, what did Sam agree to do in return for me asking you out?"

"Sorry, that's covered by doctor\patient confidentiality."

The next day...

Two figures slipped silently into a small coffee shop. After procuring a steaming cup each, they found a private booth in a secluded corner.

"Well?" Sam asked.

Janet simply replied, "I held up my end of the bargain,"

Sam waited for more.

"And we're going out again next week," the CMO added.

Sam nodded. "What do you want to know?"

"Pregnancy brought to full term. Fifteen years ago. No other information given. Spill."

Sam nodded and begain to explain. It was about time she told her friend about this part of her past.