Disclaimer: SG-1 isn't mine. But that's alright as long as I can take them out and play with them whenever I want.
Just as a warning, there is an original character that plays a large part in this story. Daniel and the rest of SG-1 are also here. I just thought you should know.
Librarian Rose Conner looked with satisfaction over her domain – shelf after shelf filled with books that spread over several floors of the university building. There were books on every subject you could think of and some that you couldn't – fiction and non-fiction, technical manuals and magazines, anything you could ever need for research or just for reading for fun, which far too few people did these days.
It was Rose's pleasure and joy to provide for the literary needs of the people of Colorado Springs. She worked hard to make sure that whatever they might need on whatever subject would be available to them.
Rose loved her library and all the books it housed. In many ways it was more her home than the small apartment where her cat lived and she slept. She tried to make the library a welcoming place where people would want to come, not like the staid and stuffy places she remembered visiting as a child.
There were still the long tables and chairs for those who simply came in to study and do research, but there were also computer stations for the electronically minded among her patrons. She had even arranged several areas with comfortable chairs and rugs for people to bring their study groups or for friends to come and visit.
She was very strict that people respect the privacy and need for others to have some quiet place to do their work, but she didn't believe in the absolute quiet rule that most other librarians seemed to think belonged in the dark recesses of the building. It seemed to be working, the library had become increasingly popular during the years she had been in charge, and she took great pride in that fact.
But there was no one in the library at the moment to enjoy all those books – there hadn't been all night. It was raining outside in Colorado Springs, raining as if it wasn't ever going to stop. The rain pounded on the skylight overhead, lightning flashed, and occasionally the thunder rattled the entire building. Rose was just as glad to be safe inside with her beloved books.
Rain always meant a slow night, especially during the summer months when most of the students were gone and classes were running on a summer schedule. She had used the time to her advantage though, staying busy. She still had a few hours before closing time, but everything was taken care of and ready for the next day. She would be ready to leave the moment the clock said it was time.
She looked at the shelves one last time to make sure everything had been put away in its proper place. It was then that she spied the thick heavy volume that had been sitting there for days now. It was old, from the rare volumes collection – 'The Languages of Ancient Mesopotamia.' She'd left it out deliberately, hoping that the handsome doctor who had been using it would return.
She sighed, it seemed that he was off on one of his mysterious 'trips' and she wouldn't see him again for a while. Sometimes weeks and months would go by between his visits to the library. But her hope of seeing him was one of the many reasons Rose chose the evening shift. He would come strolling in, smiling that charming smile of his and talk to her of ancient cultures and longodead peoples as if he'd been off visiting them for a vacation.
She smiled just thinking of him. The Doctor was a mystery and she loved a good mystery. He had a sad, vulnerable air about him that most women found extremely appealing. Rose Conner was no exception to his charm. He was unfailingly polite; he always had a warm smile and a word of thanks when she would procure the books that he needed.
She kept a list of them, trying to solve the mystery of Him. Mostly it was volumes regarding Ancient Egypt, but it contained a scattering of most ancient cultures and languages. She had read some of the books trying to decide what type of work he was doing that would require the diverse works that he seemed to need. She had even looked up some of his old papers and read them. While there were plenty from the older archives, there hadn't been any new ones in years, although he seemed to do enough research for any number of new papers.
She lifted the book thoughtfully; it was time to put it away for its own safety. It was when she picked up the heavy volume that another book fell out onto the counter – a slim leather-bound volume. Picking it up, she flipped through it curiously.
The pages were covered with hand written notes, with symbols and pictures drawn all over its pages. Normally Rose would rather have her fingernails pulled out than to read another's personal diary but she found herself drawn into the narrative against her own will.
The time on the clock ticked by unnoticed as she read of Dr. Daniel Jackson's adventures through the Stargate.
Daniel arrived home late, dripping wet from the rain outside. It was always a little disconcerting to return through the Stargate to find home just a little different than he had left it. When they'd departed through the gate a week ago, the world had been bright and the sun was shining. Now, tonight, it was a miserable evening.
The rain was pouring down with lightning and thunder crashing overhead, he even thought the temperature was dropping a little. Still, he was glad to be home at last. The last mission had been difficult, both emotionally and physically and he just wanted to sleep in his own bed for eight hours without interruption and not think of anything else.
As the elevator deposited him on his floor, he reached into his pocket to fish for his keys. Somewhere in the distance he could hear a phone stridently ringing. Realizing that it was coming from his apartment, he hurried down the hallway.
Fumbling with the key he fit it into the lock, it was probably just one of those annoying telemarketers. Anyone from the SGC would use the secure line on his cell phone and he had precious few friends outside of the base who would be calling him.
He wasn't really surprised when he didn't make it in time; the answering machine had picked up the call. He was a little surprised, however, that he knew the soft, feminine voice he heard as he pushed through the door, "Dr. Jackson? Daniel, this is Rose Conner from the University Library." She hesitated an embarrassed tone in her voice.
Rose was the sweetly efficient librarian at the University. He loved visiting there, mostly because of this warm friendly woman. She had sparkling gray eyes and the brightest smile he had ever seen. He did research there occasionally just to see her and talk to her. She was the one person he knew, besides Sha're, who would listen to his stories with complete enthusiasm. He never felt that she was humoring him, but that she was completely interested.
He had even been thinking of asking her out for coffee, but in the end he had decided that she probably didn't need the complications he would bring to her life. There was so much he couldn't tell her. Just so much…
He remembered with a smile the Egyptian night the library had sponsored. She'd persuaded him to come and tell some of his stories to the children. Somehow she had even convinced him to wear a ridiculous Egyptian costume that she had made. The evening had been a resounding success and she had been planning on doing it again. Maybe that was what she was calling about. His mind snapped back to the present when he heard…
" 'The Languages of Ancient Mesopotamia.' Well, I just discovered that you left another book inside. I... um… It looks like it might be important and I thought you might want to come get it." She seemed to be searching for words. "I'm going to take it home with me, if I don't hear from you by closing time. I don't think it should be left here. We'll be open for a little while longer if you get this message any time soon." The phone clicked and Daniel realized with a start that he should have picked up the phone, let her know that he was there. He looked at his watch. If he left right away, he could make it to the library before it closed.
God, how could he leave that book behind? Jack, would have an absolute conniption fit if he ever found out that Dr. Daniel Jackson had left one of his highly confidential and top-secret journals regarding their journeys through the Stargate in a public library. And that particular journal… he felt a shiver pass through him as it came to him what he had been writing about in that particular journal. He thrust his keys and his cell phone into his pocket and prepared to brave the dark and stormy night one more time.
Across town, in a deserted-looking building, a man pulled a pair of headphones from his ears with a satisfied smile. He'd wondered why he was supposed to be tapping the phone of a geeky archeologist with no friends, but it was work and it had paid well, so he hadn't asked any question. Now it seemed he'd finally hit pay dirt. His employer would be very pleased. He called the rest of his team and instructed them to meet him at the University Library, not that he'd really need them to take a journal from a librarian, but you didn't take any chances with this sort of thing.
He called his employer to tell him the news, then he checked his weapon, shoving it into place in the holster he wore around his body. He pulled on his jacket and shook out his umbrella and set off into the night.
He really hated the rain, but there were some thing you dealt with because you had to.