AN: Thanks for the many helpful reviews! I hope you enjoy this chapter. Finding a fortune for Daniel that would fit the story arc was tricky, and I hope it doesn't give too much away. Please keep the reviews coming, though, and happy reading!

"'The journey of hope begins and ends with love.'" Sam had to try really hard not to roll her eyes. "Daniel, why is it that you always get the sappy ones?"

"I have no idea," Daniel grimaced. "'Begins and ends with'...notice how it doesn't mention what the middle part is filled with?" He'd tried to sound funny but something about the way Sam cocked her head told him he'd failed

"What do you mean?" she asked. There couldn't be a topic that he was less interested in discussing.

"Nothing," he sighed. Turning a grin on Sam, he played it off. "Just my feeble attempt at humor. Ah, let's see..." He sat back, letting the words run through is mind. "Unfortunately, I think this one is self-explanatory. I've always found that I'm hopeful about the things that are really important to me. After all, you don't see much hope in apathy, do you?"

Sam watched at her friend, not able to shake the feeling that he was deliberately trying to evade talking to her about something.

"Of course, it could mean once you fall in love there's no hope left. I've certainly found that to be true," she stated. "But I think you might be right on this one."

"Are you kidding? I'm always right," he remarked, attempting smugness once again.

"Hey, watch it or I might have to start calling you Jack," Sam said.

"Ouch," Daniel smiled. "Harsh."

"Yep."

"So, what do you feel like doing now? I mean, it's only 7 pm."

Sneaky, Daniel, changing the subject. "I don't know. How about a movie? There's a collection of DVD's here and I haven't had time to watch any of them."

"Sounds good. Let's see... what are you in the mood for?"

"Um, I don't know. I'm pretty much up for anything as long as its not 'Star Wars' or 'The Lord of the Rings.' Honestly, if we spend one more team movie night watching either of those so called classics I think I'll put in for a transfer."

"Too late," Daniel grinned. Oh, yeah. Atlantis. "Our choices include: 'Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest,' the newest 'Pride & Prejudice,' 'X-Men: The Last Stand,' 'Stranger than Fiction.' or 'Cars.' You pick."

"Um, wow. Not a lot of choices. Still, it's a no-brainer. I can't pass up an opportunity to watch Johnny Depp."

Daniel snickered but wisely chose not to comment any further than, "You got it."

"Thirsty?" Sam called from the kitchenette.

"Um, no, I'm fine."

Coming to rest at one end of the couch, Daniel grabbed a throw pillow and propped up his arm. Sam sat at the other end and curled her legs underneath her just as the movie started. For the a while neither spoke, both absorbed in their thoughts more than the drama being played out on screen.

"Mind if I stretch my legs?"

"Hm? Oh, no, not all," Daniel said, as Sam did just that, her feet coming to rest on his legs.

"Thanks, that's much better." Daniel shot a small grin Sam's way before turning his gaze back to the screen. Sam, however, continued to examine the appearance of her long-time teammate.

She noticed, not for the first time, how unlike the Daniel Jackson of Abydos he was after years of being in the Stargate program. Relentless physical training had honed his musculature, and many women (and some men) had often found themselves admiring his handsome physique.

But beyond this, she absorbed the hints of circles under his eyes, the creases at the corners of his mouth and the lines in his brow. It looked like he hadn't been getting much sleep, which, while not the newest trick in the Dr. Jackson play book, had her worried.

She took in the way his shoulders seemed to be sagging, and her mind replayed his actions since he'd showed up unexpectedly. She'd noted how his smiles had at times seemed a bit forced, and how he seemed to be moving at a slower pace than usual for the upbeat archeologist.

In a word, Daniel looked weary.

Hmm... this wasn't good. His comment from earlier clicked and Sam knew something was deeply troubling him. She realized that she had to talk to him. After all, if their roles were reversed she knew for certain that Daniel would coax her troubles out of her, unrelentingly supporting his best friend.

"Daniel," she said softly, "you know that you can talk to me about anything, right? I mean, I'm always here for you."

She definitely had his attention, but he didn't look at her. Instead he hung his head, closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Avoiding eye-contact. Not a good sign.

"I know that. I'm fine, Sam. Really."

"Why don't I believe you?"

"I don't know. Why don't you?" A bit of sarcasm had crept into his tone, which only confirmed that she was on to something.

"Gee, I don't know. Could it be because some thing's bothering you?" She made sure her irritation was evident as well. "Come on, Daniel. We've been friends too long. Don't think you're fooling me with your forced smiles and your fake positive attitude. Something is on your mind. If it were me, you wouldn't rest until I'd spilled my guts to you. Which is why I plan to give you a taste of your own medicine. I'm not going to stop bugging you until you tell me what's going on." So there! she added silently to herself.

For a minute, Daniel studied at her. Then he rolled his eyes and sighed, deeply. Surrender at last.

"You're right, Sam. Some thing has been on my mind. I'm sorry I tried to keep it from you. But, to be honest, I'm not exactly sure how to put it into words. I guess it's not one thing, really. It's so many things, most of which add up to this big hole inside of me. I feel like I've lost my purpose. No, it's more than that. I feel like I've lost myself."

"Daniel, I had no idea." She sat up and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "How long have you been feeling this way?"

"I don't know exactly. For a while, I guess. I noticed it first some time after I descended, but at the time it wasn't a big deal. Now, though..." The words hung in the air, neither of them wishing to finish the sentence.

"I'm sorry, Daniel." She was at a loss. For Daniel, who was always so sure of the right course, always confident of himself and his actions, the moral center for the team, hell, the entire Stargate program, to feel so disconnected... it was hard to wrap her mind around. "Tell me everything."

"I don't think there's much to tell. I just feel... god, just so damn frustrated. We've beaten the Ori, but at what cost? And there's always a cost. It seems like all we've done since opening the gate is destroy lives. For every good thing we've done, I can name two atrocities we've knowingly or unknowingly caused. I used to think someday it would all make sense, you know, that we just didn't have the whole picture. But now, after we've defeated our biggest enemies and lost some of our dearest friends, what have we really gained? Was any of it even worth it?" His eyes begged her to understand, and Sam returned his gaze steadily. She did the only thing she could think of to comfort him, pulling him into a fervent embrace.

"For not having much to tell, I sure said a lot," he joked. Always putting up walls to protect himself, even from her.

"Daniel," she said forcibly, pulling back to look him directly in the face. He had to know she meant every word she was about to say. "I know exactly how you're feeling. I felt the same way when my Replicator double went free. The terror she unleashed because I was so blind... Believe me, I know. I think it's harder on those of us who usually have the answers, because we expect perfection from ourselves. No one else does, of course, but that doesn't stop us from expecting it."

He allowed himself a small but genuine smile, and Sam relaxed a bit. Good. She was getting through to him.

"I wish I had the right words to make you feel better, but I don't. That's more your specialty. But I will tell you that you're not alone, and that I'm always here for you."

"Thanks, Sam. That means a great deal to me." They hugged again and Sam thought she felt him relaxing a bit.

"No more than your friendship means to me."

"Well, talking about that has now made me thirsty. Can I get you anything?"

"No, I'm fine." She watched him walk away, knowing he was really trying to put a little distance between them after being so vulnerable. "Don't forget to stock up on books before heading to Atlantis. I know how fast you read, and even though you'll be swamped I'm sure you'll run out quicker than you think. You can borrow some of mine, if you'd like."

Speaking of Atlantis... "Daniel, why wasn't Jack the one to tell me about the Atlantis posting and my promotion? After all, he is head of Homeworld Security."

"Ah. I wondered when that would come up. Honestly, Sam, he wanted you to hear it from someone you didn't feel like sucker punching."

"Oh, really?"

Daniel sighed. "Look, I know you might not believe this, but Jack really just wanted you to be able to celebrate this achievement without having all of your personal stuff get in the way."

"So, in other words, I'm not professional enough to keep my career and my personal life separate?"

"No, I don't think that's it at all. He just wanted things to be easier on you."

"But we'll have to work together eventually? Hell, he'll probably have to brief me when I get back to the SGC."

"True, but this way you can be prepared. It won't be the same as him just showing up on you."

Shit. Daniel was probably right, which meant Jack had probably been right. "I guess I can see that. Still makes him a coward."

"Oh, I don't doubt that part of it was based on self-preservation. Feel free to take all that anger out on him when you get the chance." Was he actually smiling right now? Awfully assumptive on Jack's part, thinking she wouldn't want to sucker punch Daniel.

"Don't grin too widely there, Dr. Jackson."

"Oh, come on, at least let me picture it for a minute: Jack with a busted lip, you with a sore fist."

Sam couldn't stop herself from picturing the same thing. She'd have to try to avoid actually doing that, since he would again be her CO. Unless she could sneak it in before making her promotion official...

"Uh-oh, I know that look. We'd better finish the movie before you can plot anything too dangerous. Or devious, as the case may be."

Sam chuckled and laid down, placing her head in Daniel's lap. They finished the movie without further talking, both content to share the other's company.

Later that night, a single thought flitted through Daniel's mind as sleep was closing in: If only I could find someone like Sam.