The Heart Won't Lie
Daniel left the Scotsman trail and leisurely worked his way towards the Central Garden area. He noticed the posters regarding the afternoon's entertainment tacked to the notice boards. As he drew closer, he could just make out the waning sound of applause and someone, presumably the bandleader, announcing the name of the next song to be played. Automatically scanning the area (Jack's years of training were instinctive now), Daniel stopped dead in his tracks. Cutting across the grassy picnic area was Sam! Clad in shorts and a figure-hugging T-shirt, the only thing that his brain could register was she's so beautiful. The analytical part of his brain also registered that she had a determined look on her face — the kind of look Daniel knew all too well. This was Sam in full "fix-it" mode, totally committed to an objective, and nothing would stand in her way until she solved the problem. Suddenly, Sam slowed her pace and looked around. Daniel absently wondered whether someone had planted a homing signal in his backpack, because even as the thought crossed his mind, Sam's eyes locked with his and she let out an excited cry. "Daniel."
With no way to avoid her, Daniel arranged his features into neutrality, not intending to let Sam glimpse any of the internal turmoil he was suffering. So he was surprised when she grabbed him in a crushing hug; automatically, his hands reached around her and he hugged her back, drinking in the scent of her hair, the softness of her touch and … the fierceness of her grip? What's going on? was Daniel's reaction. Why is she holding me so tightly, he wondered, while at the same time, a part of him thought not that I mind. Instantly, he thought the worst. It had to be SGC-related. But the rational part of him realized that that was not the case; if it had been, he would have been contacted on his cell. Besides, his meeting up with Sam was completely unforeseen. So why is she holding me? Reluctantly loosening his hold, Daniel locked eyes with Sam. He was shaken to his core by what he saw. He had always known that Sam's eyes were the most beautiful shade of blue; but this time, he saw more than just her eyes. What Daniel saw was a reflection of what he felt for Sam — it was the look of love. Not trusting himself to speak, he smiled and waited for her to speak.
"Daniel," she said, "what are you doing here? Holy Hannah, you won't believe what just happened. You have no idea … it was amazing. It was like he saw into my soul. It was …"
"Whoa, Sam. Slow down. You're going to hyperventilate. C'mon, let's go sit over at the picnic benches. You can tell me all about it."
"No Daniel, this can't wait. I have to tell you now before I lose my courage. Daniel, I love you."
It seemed to Daniel that time stopped. Did Sam just say she loved me? Stunned by her revelation, Daniel stood there, gaping at Sam, unable to say anything. As he watched, the look of elation on her face turned to fear as she waited for his reaction. Say something Daniel, she pleased silently. Anything. Daniel remained frozen to the spot. With a sob, Sam turned away; her movement snapped Daniel out his trance-like state.
"No Sam, please don't go. I … you love me?"
"Yes Daniel, I do. I've just been too blind to see it."
Daniel's face lit up with what Sam would call his 1,000-megawatt smiles. "Oh, Sam, you have no idea how long I wished to hear you say that. I've loved you for so long. But what happened? Not that I'm complaining, or anything. It's just that you and Jack …"
Sam looked at Daniel and drew him back into a fierce hug. "Shush, Daniel. There's no Jack. We need to talk." Not quite believing what her heard, Daniel replied, "OK Sam, how about I head home, shower and meet you at your place in a couple of hours?"
Exactly two hours later, Daniel found himself outside Sam's house. About to knock on the door, he couldn't believe how nervous he was. If you can deal with snake in your head Gou'ald, surely you can deal with a beautiful astrophysicist? The issue was soon rendered moot as Sam opened the door and Daniel was once again rendered speechless. Sam was dressed casually in a pair of jeans that molded to her figure like they were painted on. She wore a soft angora sweater, its pale blue color accentuating her eyes, her blonde hair framing her face. All this Daniel took in at a glance. What he noticed more than anything was that Sam was glowing. It was if a light radiated from within her, a light he had seen only once before from Sam — when she was with Martouf.
Smiling at his obvious discomfort, Sam quirked an eyebrow in her best Teal'c imitation and asked "are you planning to stand there all night Daniel, or do you want to come in?" Her reaction to his befuddled state of mind brought a giggle to her lips. Daniel gaped in amazement. Sam is giggling? OK, who are you and what have you done with my best friend? But even as the thought came to mind, he quickly dismissed it. This was Samantha Carter, not Lt.-Colonel Sam Carter he was seeing. Daniel's heart was filled with such joy. The problem was, even as his brain unfroze, his vocal chords remained a few seconds behind.
"Uhhh, yah … sure …"
Sam burst out laughing. "You speak almost 30 languages, and this is the best you can do?" Taking Daniel's hand she steered him into the living room, returning to close the door. All the while, Daniel remained standing, not moving from where Sam had left him.
A mischievous twinkle in her eye, Sam looked Daniel up and down. He was wearing a pair of casual slacks that fit "just right", a soft tan sweater over a pale cream shirt. "Daniel, I'm not going to bite … unless you want me too?" At that, Daniel blushed a bright shade of red. Sam brought her hand to her mouth to hide her smile. This is going to be easier than I thought. "Daniel, sit with me." She led him over to the couch; once seated, she turned to face him. Taking a deep breath, she spoke first.
"Daniel. I've been a fool. Can you ever forgive me?"
A frown on his face, Daniel tried to think of what Sam had done that demanded an apology. "Forgive you Sam, Whatever for? There's nothing to forgive."
"You're wrong Daniel. All these years, I've been searching for something elusive. And all that time it was right before my eyes, if only I had listened to my heart and not my …"
"What, Sam, l don't understand."
In spite of the seriousness of the situation, Sam smiled to herself. Oh Daniel, you really are so clueless sometimes. Taking a deep breath, she continued. "Daniel. All my life I've been a scientist. I've spent my whole life searching for hard facts. If it can't be touched, tested, repeated and proven, then it isn't science."
Sam turned from Daniel, struggling to keep her emotions in check. Still facing away from him, she asked: "Daniel, do you remember when I was trapped aboard the Prometheus and I was hallucinating?"
Gently taking her chin, he turned her face so that he was looking straight into her eyes. "Yes, Sam. It was in your report. You said we all appeared to you — me, Teal'c, Jack, your Dad, and a little girl you called Grace. You said that we all helped you get through the time you were alone, that your subconscious mind gave you the clues to get out of the cloud."
"It was more than that, Daniel. I never actually told anyone what my 'hallucinations' said to me." Turning away again, Sam's mood turned somber. She spoke so softly that Daniel had to strain his ears to hear what she said "Well, nobody except Janet." Taking a deep breath, she turned to face Daniel again. "Teal'c told me to be careful, that it was a plot to gain access to the weapons aboard the Prometheus. As if I could even do that. My Dad, he asked the strangest question … he asked me if I was happy."
"What did you tell him Sam?"
"I told him that at the moment things were a little rough, but in general, I was happy. And you know what Daniel? He didn't believe me. Now I mean, that is so weird. After all, I was talking to myself, for heaven's sake. And I couldn't even convince myself." Sam laughed as she recalled her "father's" response, but there was no humor in her laugh. "He told me I wasn't happy. He told me I was content, I was satisfied, I was in control and that that was the problem."
A puzzled look on his face, Daniel replied: "Okay, I'm really not following here."
"You know, that's exactly what I said. And 'Dad' replied that I was missing something vital from my life. And he said the sad part was that I had no idea what he was talking about. I got indignant and told him off. I said that I was happy. I told 'him' that I'd seen and done things most people couldn't even dream of. I had an incredible life. And then 'he' showed me how much I was fooling myself. All it took was one short sentence. He told me I was alone."
Sam fell silent, taking her eyes away from Daniel and staring at her hands. Knowing that he shouldn't push, Daniel remained silent as well, taking Sam's hands and willing her to feel the support she needed. He could almost see the battle that was taking place in her mind. After a few minutes, Sam looked up again and Daniel started at the tears in her eyes.
"Oh Daniel, he was so right. Do you know what he said? He told me about his love for my mother, that she gave his life meaning and balance and showed him that there was something beyond his career. He said that, even knowing what was going to happen to her, he'd still do it all over again. Then he said that he knew that I'd never let myself have something like that with someone because I was afraid that it would end and I'd be alone again. He told me that I needed to let go of what was preventing me from finding happiness, that I deserved to love someone and be loved in return."
Tears were falling from her eyes; Daniel scooted over to Sam and took her in his arms. Slowly drawing comforting circles on her back, her held her while she cried, even as she tightened her grip on him. Sniffling into his shoulder, she continued her story.
"Of course I ignored him. And who should appear next? Colonel O'Neill. You know, Daniel, I must have been really messed up. I mean, my hallucinations all seemed to know what the previous hallucination had said."
"Why do you say that, Sam"?
"Because even in my concussion-induced state, the analytical part of my brain was still functioning. You know what 'Jack O'Neill' said to me?"
For a moment Daniel said nothing, not sure if he really wanted to know. Softly he replied, "What Sam? What did he say?"
There was a touch of irony in Sam's voice when she responded. "He said he was a safe bet. Can you imagine? A safe bet."
Daniel continued to soothe her as he spoke. "Well, he was a safe bet, Sam. And he did feel something for you, something beyond just a CO/2IC relationship."
Again Sam laughed bitterly. "That's not it, Daniel. Do you want to know what my mind told me to say? I should have listened to what it said. I told 'Jack' that as long as I was thinking about him, setting my sights on what I thought was unobtainable, there would no chance of being hurt by someone else. And the worst of it was that I knew! Even 'Jack' told me so. 'He" said that Dad was right, that I deserved more. Oh Daniel, all these years, everything I ever wanted was right in front of my eyes and I was too blind to see it."
"Sam," he whispered. "I saw you a long, long time ago." Sam looked up at Daniel, tears falling from her eyes as she continued. "I think I fell in love with you the moment I met you in the map room on Abydos. But you had Sha're. Then she was taken as a host and we began our war with the Goa'uld. And then she was gone and I felt so bad and you were so sad and I should have said something and then you … died and it was too late and oh Daniel, I don't know why we wait to tell people how we really feel. I guess I hoped that you always knew … "
Looking back over the years
Of all the things I've always meant to say
But words didn't come easily
So many times through empty fears
Of all of the nights I tried to pick up the phone
So scared of who might be answering
You try to live your life from day to day
But seeing you across the room tonight
Just gives me away
"Shh, Sam, it's all right. I'm here now. I'm not going anywhere. I've been so lucky in my life to have the love of two women — you and Sha're. I know I'll never forget Sha're, but you'll never have to worry — I could not love you more."
Cause the heart won't lie
Sometimes life gets in the way
But there's one thing that won't change
I know I've tried
The heart won't lie
You can live your alibi
Who can see you're lost inside a foolish disguise
The heart won't lie
With a gentle touch, Daniel lifted Sam's face so that she could see his eyes. Sam involuntarily gasped, as she looked deep into Daniel's eyes. Whoever said that the eyes were a window to the soul had it right, she thought, for revealed within Daniel eyes was the love Sam had sought for so long. Closing her eyes, she sought Daniel's lips, and as hers met his, they exchanged a passionate kiss. Thank you Dad, she thought, wherever you are. I know everything will be all right now.
Don't worry … we're not quite done … after all, we left Jack in the elevator.