This is just an idea i had during a Cellular Metabolism lecture (because God it's boring), hopefully I'll stick with it and write more than just this chapter. Enjoy !
Chapter 1/Prologue
Daniel was woken by the smell of fresh coffee. He lifted his head off his folded arms and looked around the room blearily for the source of the smell, his glasses falling back onto his nose in a crooked fashion from where they'd been pushed up onto his forehead.
"Here, I've just made a fresh pot" Sam said, pushing a steaming mug into Daniel's already outstretched hand.
"Thanks" he replied, his voice raspy from disuse. The steam rising from the mug fogged up his glasses, and he rubbed them clear before taking a long gulp of the drink that had become vital to his very existence, even more so than usual over the past few weeks.
Sam pulled up a chair and sat next to Daniel, cupping her own mug in her hands. She was filthy, with dirt smeared across her face, and clothes that obviously hadn't been washed in days.
"How was P29-7JT?" Daniel asked, turning to his friend.
"Uneventful. Pretty much just open space as far as the eye can see, some remnants of civilisation, but long since gone and not technologically advanced enough to be 'interesting'. You'd have liked it. You should have come, it doesn't feel right without you there"
"I would have, but you know…" he averted his gaze from her, preferring to stare straight ahead.
The pair sat in silence, sipping their coffees. What was usually a casual, relaxing activity for them was steeped in tension, almost palpable. While the actions were similar, the feeling was different this time.
"How's she doing?" Sam inquired.
"Same as usual." Daniel sighed, reaching forward to take the hand lying on the bed in front of him into his own, and grasping tightly. "I was convinced I felt her squeeze my hand a few hours ago. I called Carolyn in, she ran some tests, but of course it was nothing. Just my imagination" He hung his head and made a noise somewhere between a sob and a burst of laughter.
"I'm going crazy down here, Sam. I can feel it."
"Leave then." She suggested "Take a break. Go topside and get some rest, I'll stay here and sit with her while you-"
"I can't leave her!" He shouted incredulously, staring at Sam as if she were the crazy one.
"I promised her I wouldn't leave, I swore it to her."
"Just in order for you to rest a bit. She won't even know you've gone." Sam tried to reason.
"I'm not leaving her!" He insisted.
"But Daniel, it's been weeks! The chances of her recovering have gone down to one in-"
"NO!" He shouted.
A horrid silence fell between the two as they stared each other down. Sam relented first, sighing and shaking her head.
"Daniel, I'm sorry but I'm going to have to get Dr. Lam involved. I just think that-"
"GET OUT! JUST GET OUT!" He screamed at her, face twisting in anger. He was more angry than she had ever seen him. With no hesitation she got up from her seat and skittered out of the room.
Sam shut the door to the isolation room behind her and leant against it, exhaling deeply, feeling exhausted by the short interaction. Vala hadn't woken up in three weeks, and she likely never would again. If only Daniel would accept it.
