The Game Keeper: Memories
Daniel stared at the blank television set as he lay on the couch. He had tried to watch something to get his mind off the mission earlier today but couldn't.
If he closed his eyes, he could see the horrified look on his parent's faces before they were killed and he could hear their screams. The room grew misty as tears welled up in his eyes.
He had loved his parents. Growing up in the deserts of Egypt were some of his happiest memories. After they died, all he could remember was pain. The pain of his Grandfather's rejection, the pain of the orphanage and the children teasing him for choosing to read instead of playing football, the pain of a foster family greeting him with false cheerfulness and then ignoring him afterwards. He remembered the teasing and name calling from the kids in high school and collage because he was younger then them.
He smiled slightly, thinking about how Ryan would have a better life than his own. He knew Jack would gladly take Ryan should anything happen to him.
He heard a soft knock on his door and sat up.
"Daniel? It's Sam."
"It's open." He called back and the door opened, the light from the hallway almost blinding him as the beam hit him in the face.
"I just wanted to see if you're okay." She stepped in, turning on the light as she came in.
"I'm fine."
"No you're not." Sam smiled sadly. "No one is fine after...that."
"It was a long time ago." Daniel said shortly, biting his lip, and looked down.
"My mother died when I was younger too. You know how they say the pain goes away? Well, I guess that's true but grief is forever." Sam sat on the couch next to him. "I loved my mom and will always cherish the memories I have with her and will never forget her." She rubbed his back and smiled. "Once, I was sick and stayed home from school. That day we were going on a field trip to the planetarium and I was upset. So mom taped a tin can into a flashlight and poked a bunch of holes in it. We turned all the lights off and closed the windows in my room and turned on the flashlight. We lay on our backs and made up constellations." She smiled at the memory and glanced at the archeologist next to her.
"My mom broke a dish once. Instead of throwing it away, she buried the pieces and helped me dig for them the next day," he recalled fondly. "And Dad taught me hieroglyphics and would help me paint them on the tent we brought to dig sites." He smiled faintly. "They were good parents."
"So are you." Sam said sincerely.
Daniel nodded slowly and drew Sam into his arms, hugging her. "Thank you."
She rubbed his back tenderly. "You're welcome."
