In his office, Daniel worked away at his computer. Being able to work while in pain or in a worried state was almost second nature for him by now. It had either been work or dwell on the emotional pain or the latest physical injury. He wasn't sure that it was a good thing to be able to do that, but it seemed to work out for him; although it did mean that when he stopped working, it sometimes hit him twice as badly.
This time, however, he wasn't able to switch off his worries completely. There were some disadvantages to being more emotionally open following his time spent with the Ascended; chiefly that he was now keenly aware of the passing of time and of his relationships with each of his friends. Because of this, he had strengthened his friendships with each of them; in Sam's case, he had even overcome his previous fears and allowed himself to be happy for once.
But now doubts – old and new – returned. He had barely seen her outside of a work setting for at least a fortnight since he had proposed. He sighed as his fingers continued to hit the keys on the keyboard. That wasn't, in his experience, how a woman he was in love with was meant to react to proposals of marriage. But then perhaps that was it. The idea of marrying him probably scared her, or even repulsed her, and now she was too polite to be honest with him.
He was a more secure man these days – more secure in himself, in what his friends thought of him, and in how important his work was. He was above suspecting Sam of having residual feelings for Jack; well, at least he thought he had been. The elephant in the room – one of the reasons he had taken so long to come clean with Sam about his feelings – had been Jack, and Daniel was rather perturbed that Jack was still a silent obstacle after all this time.
He mentally kicked himself. He was so sure that he and Sam could make that next step. Perhaps he had been overconfident and had misjudged her feelings? Perhaps she wasn't ready to take that step with him? Or perhaps she wasn't as serious in it as he was.
The doubts filled his head until he couldn't keep working. His typing slowed considerably but he idly prodded keys here and there to keep up the pretence for the idle observer. It was getting ridiculous – he was going to have to confront her sooner or later. He was tired of giving her space and waiting for her to come to him. It was slowly becoming clear that she might never. That thought alone felt like a dagger in his chest.
He was about to get up when he stopped in his tracks. Sam quietly entered his office but didn't sit down like she usually did. It must be serious; judging by the worried expression on her face. He looked up at her and he steeled himself for the worst. If she was going to call things off between them, he was going to leave with his head held high. He had done nothing wrong.
Daniel said, casually, "Hey! What's going on?"
Sam appeared even more worried as she looked at him for a moment longer than necessary in a professional environment. She then said, "Daniel, I'm really sorry."
His upbeat exterior faded and he felt like slumping but he remained upright. He glanced down at the desk. "Oh."
She continued hurriedly, "I need a little more time. Look, you know how I feel about you..."
Daniel raised his eyebrows a little. He said, harsher than necessary, "Do I?"
She blinked, and said, confused, "Excuse me?"
His shoulders slumped and he sighed. He said, "Look, never mind. I'm just on edge here; I haven't seen you outside of work since I popped the question. I thought I'd scared you off. You know, if it's that horrible an idea, Sam, you could at least have said. I wouldn't have died if you'd said 'no' to me."
She folded her arms across her chest defensively. She said, "It's not a horrible idea, Daniel Jackson." She sighed and looked down at her feet. She then looked at him again, regret in her eyes. She said, "It's not horrible. I just really need to work some things out. You know the job that we do; the risks that it time and time again entails. I don't know whether I should put you through that or you me should things go wrong. How many times have we already lost each other?"
Daniel paused, finding himself surprised that she had been thinking the same things that he had been thinking when he had decided that he wanted to marry her. He had resolved most of it in his head – it could work. There were married couples at the SGC. He was about to reply, to reassure her, when she raised a hand. He stared at her, and she shook her head.
She said, "Anyway, that's not what this is about."
He frowned, confused. "It's not?"
She looked even more worried – if that were indeed possible – as she spoke again. She said, "The General just got off the phone with Colonel Kendrick. Krista's boyfriend was found dead in his apartment."
Daniel instantly sat up in his chair. He knew Krista; not well, of course, but he had met her when he had visited Teal'c's new apartment. She had seemed to take a shine to his friend. He said, "What? What happened?"
"We don't have all the details yet, but according to Kendrick, preliminary evidence indicates that Teal'c may have been responsible."
If Daniel could sit up any straighter, he would have. He said instantly, "That's impossible."
"That's what I said. Unfortunately, we can't ask him about it because he's missing. So is Krista. As of right now, Teal'c is wanted for kidnapping and murder."
That wasn't right. Teal'c must surely be a scapegoat. Daniel knew their team-mate and friend to be courteous and peaceful when he wasn't out in the field. He said, "That's ridiculous. There must be some mistake."
Sam nodded sympathetically. She shared his sentiment but she regretted – as she did on many such occasions – that she couldn't voice her opinions as freely as a civilian like Daniel could. She said, "Yeah."
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Daniel returned to his office. He had just visited Teal'c, who was now in his old quarters on base. The Jaffa had been arrested by armed policemen, and he had been brought to the SGC. Jack was under pressure to at least have guards posted outside the quarters, but Daniel knew that that his friend wouldn't cave in; for now at least.
Daniel's belief in Teal'c's innocence was further strengthened when he had heard Teal'c's side of the story. He had obviously been framed but why, he didn't know. It was obviously someone who knew who Teal'c really was.
The archaeologist sighed as he sat down behind his desk and sorted the papers that had been strewn there. After all these years, Teal'c was still treated with suspicion despite proving himself time and time again in saving the Earth. He shook his head – some people would never change. There were shady people out there who hadn't done the things that SG-1 had done; had never been through the things that SG-1 had nor achieved the things that they had, but yet thought they knew better. It was beyond ridiculous.
Just as he was beginning to lose himself in inner rantings, something caught his eye. He stared in abject bewilderment as a series of Ancient characters appeared one by one in a notepad application on his computer. He gawped at his in shock; even more so when a black messenger screen appeared, with the words 'Look familiar?' on it.
He muttered in confusion, "What the hell...?"
Just as he thought of ringing up Security, the phone started ringing. Without thinking, he picked it up. "Daniel Jackson."
He froze on hearing an electronically distorted voice. It said, "Did you get my message?"
Minutes later, when he hung up the phone, Daniel couldn't believe just how eight years ago, he let Catherine Langford talk him into working for her. Even so, back then, he could never have foreseen what his life would entail from that moment on. The voice on the other end of the phone had demanded the Ancient characters be translated into Goa'uld, in exchange for a tape proving Teal'c's innocence.
And the clincher was that he couldn't tell anyone.
He wiped his brow idly, and then realised that he was sweating. Whoever it was had been able to get into his computer – in what was supposed to be the most secure facility on Earth – and had managed also to access the internal switchboard in order to call him. Whoever it was could also have access to the surveillance feed and be watching him.
He closed his eyes. He was in too deep. He was going to get killed and Teal'c would be charged with a crime he hadn't committed.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
When he had calmed down sufficiently, Daniel had a clearer idea of his plan of action. He left his office and walked the corridors. Obviously, the group involved didn't need the translation for anything good. If he had to capitulate to them, then he needed an exit strategy. He knew just the person; his only hope now lie in her.
He sighted Sam just entering a lift. When she saw him, she held it open for him. As the lift doors closed, they stood side-by-side, neither talking. He then opened a door above the main controls, and pressed the emergency stop button. She stared at him wide-eyed as he looked at her. She shot him an incredulous look, which then faded when she noticed his eyes flicker. He then smiled as he held her in his arms.
Daniel whispered in her ear, "Meet me in VIP quarters seven in about a half hour. I need one of the long-range tracking devices that you and Bill are working on." He then said, "Act natural... just like the time we miscalculated an elevator ride. I promise I'll tell you everything soon. I just can't now, okay?"
He kissed her ear as though to show any observers via the camera feed that the two of them were just having a private moment. Sam tried her best not to frown as she listened to what he said. She whispered, "What are you doing?"
"Trust me. Please. I need you to not tell anyone – that includes Jack."
"Be safe." Regret and fear filled Sam as she slowly let go of him. She then reached around him to pull the emergency stop button out, resetting it to its original position. The lift slowly resumed rising, and she explained, "After three minutes, it trips an alarm at Security." She smiled faintly. "I don't think you want them to see what looks like us making out... again."
The lift stopped and the doors opened. Daniel kissed Sam and slowly let go of her hand with a lingering glance as he left the lift. He silently prayed that he hadn't already put her in jeopardy.