Author's note: Thanks again to my beta, Thraesja, for all of the amazing help with this story! It's because of her that this chapter was long enough to put in another evil chapter break! Enjoy!

-- Chapter 7 --

Except for the declarations of love, Daniel had sounded almost exactly like his old self. Sam had to admit she didn't mind that deviation so much, and she dared to hope that it would remain after all traces of the unknown compound in his blood were gone.

Sam thought about how Colonel O'Neill and Daniel had been acting. Daniel had said repeatedly that he loved her. The Colonel had said that he wanted her. That was quite a difference. In fact, it was a significant difference. She contemplated the implications of this observation.

Perhaps the fact that they weren't exhibiting precisely the same symptoms was evidence to support Janet's theory that Jack and Daniel were simply experiencing a reduction in their inhibitions.

Tentatively, she allowed herself to explore that possibility. If Daniel really was in love with her, was it possible for them to get involved? Daniel was a civilian, so the Air Force's rules of fraternization were not going to be a problem. But how could she justify accepting Daniel's actions under the influence of this chemical as true, but not Colonel O'Neill's? What would her rejection of her commanding officer's feelings do to the dynamics of SG-1?

Frustrated, Sam picked herself up from the floor near her door and sat down in the chair behind her desk. She tried to busy herself with writing her report from their last mission. Sam finished the report and was trying to find something else to do when her phone rang again.

"Carter."

"Sam, it's Janet. I've just received the results of their latest blood tests. The chemical has completely dissipated from both of them."

"That's great news, Janet. Is their behaviour back to normal too?"

"I believe so. They both seem pretty embarrassed about how they've been acting today, in any case. Are you going to come down here?"

Sam hesitated. She still didn't know what she wanted to do and was hoping to delay seeing them for as long as possible. "Is that necessary?"

"Well, I'm releasing Daniel in a few minutes. I think he'd rather be alone right now. He's been very quiet and keeps blushing every time anyone so much as glances his way. I'm going to keep the Colonel around for another hour or so, just to make sure that all of his violent tendencies are gone. But he's understandably in a very bad mood, so it's hard to tell. It might help if you came to talk to him."

Oh, great. "Alright. I'll be there in a bit."

After hanging up, Sam busied herself for a few minutes with some clerical work that she'd been putting off. When she was reasonably sure that Daniel would have left the infirmary, she made her way down there.

The Colonel was still in his isolation room, though the door was no longer locked. Janet had probably left him there so he could enjoy the relative privacy. Sam knocked tentatively on the door.

He was sitting on the edge of the bed. He winced slightly when he saw who was visiting. "Come in, Carter."

"How are you feeling, sir?"

"Embarrassed, with a side order of mortification. Other than that, I'm just peachy. You?"

"I'm fine, Colonel. Thank you."

His gaze lingered on her bandaged neck. "How's your, uh, wound?"

"Not a problem, sir."

He seemed to be deliberately avoiding making eye contact. "Frasier thinks this chemical made me overly territorial towards the first member of the opposite sex I came into contact with."

"Yep, that's what the report says."

"Trust the report, that's what I always say. Especially when it comes to weird chemicals and unpleasant diseases. It's not like this is the first time this has happened."

She nodded. "P3X-797."

"Ah, the Land of Light. I miss it so. I don't suppose you've forgotten all about my behaviour?"

"Uh, no. But I'll be happy to, if you want."

"Much appreciated." He flexed his hand and made a face. "Crap. I'm going to have to apologize to Daniel, aren't I?"

"For that colossal bruise on his chin? Might be a good idea, sir."

He nodded, and looked at her for the first time. "So, are we good, Carter?"

"We're fine, Colonel."

"Excellent. Now I just have to convince Napoleon to let me out of here."

Sam laughed. "I'll see what I can do, sir."

After putting in a good word for her CO with Janet, Sam headed back to her office and pulled out a report to work on. She was relieved that things with the Colonel had been so easily resolved. Maybe it was the chemical that had caused their behaviour. It should be easy enough to pretend that none of this had ever happened.

Yep. That's what I'm going to do. Nothing had happened, nothing would change, and the team would still work well. Sam released a sad sigh, not entirely happy with her decision. I never should have allowed myself to entertain the thought that Daniel really loves me. She lowered her head to her desk miserably.

"Uh...Sam?" a familiar voice said from her doorway.

To be concluded
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