Daniel was roused from a relatively deep sleep by a loud knocking… which to be honest sounded more as though someone was attempting to hammer his door down. He glanced at the clock and got up, muttering obscenities at being woken just as he had managed to get to sleep, having had trouble earlier for no distinct reason. Bleary-eyed, he went to answer the door and then stood for a moment in confusion as his mind took in the sight of a fuming Cam.

Cam remarked, looking pretty annoyed, "Do you even have a phone line or is that phone for show?"

Eventually remembering things… chiefly where he worked, Daniel replied, looking tired, "My insomnia's flared up again… so I unplugged my phone and switched my cell off. Sorry. What's up?"

Cam replied, his jaw still tight, "Sam's in the Infirmary."

This had the effect of waking the Archaeologist up completely, and he ran back upstairs to get changed as the Colonel sighed, standing in the hallway with his hands in his pockets, wondering what would happen to his band now.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Having not got any information, surprisingly, from the world's chattiest and friendliest team lead on the way to the mountain, Daniel ran into the Infirmary, asking Carolyn in concern on seeing Sam unconscious in a bed with Vala and Teal'c at her bedside, shortly joined by Cam,

"What happened?"

Carolyn quickly related what had happened and the Astrophysicist's injuries, and Daniel, worried even further at the nature of the accident, said softly as he stood at the foot of Sam's bed, gazing at his best friend and team-mate, "She's the safest rider I know…"

Teal'c, noticing how upset Daniel looked as he asked the doctor whether Sam would be alright, pulled out a chair for the Archaeologist, silently instructing him to sit down. Daniel did so, not noticing the others discreetly leaving for the observation room as he held her hand, gazing down at her still form.

His eyes moved to the scars that he could see, and for some inexplicable reason, he felt guilty… the same guilt that had caused his earlier insomnia now resurfaced. He didn't know the reason then, and neither did he now, although he somehow surmised that it was because of her. He then began to think of their becoming distant over the past couple of years, how he himself had suffered as a result personally. Truth be told, she had made him a better person, and he had never realised that until she wasn't in his life anymore when she had gone to Nevada.

In an uncharacteristic move, he kissed the hand he held as years of pain and distance melted, and his only wish was that she would be alright and that he could have a second chance at repairing their friendship. She deserved more than the short shrift he had given her; a lot more.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Sam's eyes flickered open several hours later, her sedative wearing off as General Landry joined her team-mates in the observation room to be briefed on her condition, and she looked to her right on feeling someone holding her hand. To her surprise, she saw Daniel, and she smiled, noticing his unshaven chin. She remarked hoarsely as Carolyn came over to check on her,

"How long have you been here?"

He said softly, kissing the hand that he held, "It doesn't matter."

"At least eat something? It looks as though you haven't slept in ages."

"That doesn't matter either."

He whispered, leaning closer, "You matter the most."

Gazing at her for a moment as her eyes brimmed with tears, he got up and left the Infirmary as Carolyn asked Sam, "Sam?"

Sam whispered, wiping her eyes quickly, "I'm fine."