Chapter 7
Daniel sat outside the infirmary waiting for any opportunity to deepen his relationship with the new Sam. He missed his best friend, his sister and, if she was open to it, he would love to get to know this different Sam. He was desperate to find out the differences between the two. He wanted to be able to talk to her, run theories past her, hear her theories. He simply missed her.
Janet and Charlie walked out of the infirmary in deep conversation. Both walked past the sitting archaeologist.
"Hi Janet can I see Sam?" Daniel bounded to his feet enthusiastically
Janet turned, almost jumping, having completely forgotten he was waiting
"Ah sure Daniel, you can go in for a few minutes, she'll be needing to sleep soon so no excitement" Janet smiled at him as he quickly moved into the infirmary.
Daniel could see Sam in the bed at the faraway wall. He could see she was looking at something and as he moved closer he could see it was a picture. As he approached her silently Sam moved her hand to her stomach and a small smile graced her lips. Daniel stopped, shocked, fully realising the significance of the gesture. He must have made some noise because Sam turned towards him
"Hi Daniel" Sam smiled looking happier than Daniel had ever seen her since she arrived
"Hey I just came to check you were ok" he said coming to stand beside her
Sam smiled and looked up at Daniel's face. To herself she admitted that her other self had been lucky to have this mans friendship and support. Could she make use of it, could she be sure that she wasn't just a replacement to him.
"I'm fine Daniel" She answered shyly
"Can I get you anything?" Daniel asked
Sam thought for a moment. 'Maybe now is the time to get to know Daniel and to introduce Dr Carter"
"Can you sit with me for a while Daniel, I'd like to talk?"
"Sure of course, what do you want to talk about?" Daniel said pulling the chair from the other bed and sitting on it
"Can you tell me about her, the other me? I want to know about her, the differences, you know"
Daniel was already sure he could name two major differences but the earnest look on her face forced him to take her request seriously. He sat back and tried to sort his memories into some kind of order that she would appreciate.
"Sam was a bit of a conundrum" Daniel began "she was the smartest person I had met while being the best female soldier Jack had ever come across. That took Jack a while to get used to" Daniel laughed at the memories of some of SG1's early missions. He pulled himself together
"Anyway we were kind of her family. Her mom died when she was 14 and her brother hated her dad. All Sam wanted was to get them back together" Daniel became lost in memories and conversations. He was staring into space almost forgetting she was there.
"On missions she and I would always be throwing theories at each other. Jack called it 'geek speak'. She was able to solve anything we came across, she was just incredible"
He took a breath
"she completed our team, and without her we are all kind of lost"
Daniel stopped and looked around, almost shocked when he came face to face with well Sam.
"You cared for her very much Daniel"
"Yeah, she was my family, my little sister" he answered
They both sat quietly for a few minutes each lost in their own thoughts. Daniel was waiting for more of Sam's questions and Sam was desperate to ask the only question that mattered to her.
"Do you think you could ever let me into that family? Sam asked quietly
Daniel, shaken out of the silence, looked at her and realised how lonely she must be. He took her hand and with sincerity replied
"You're already there"
With tears in her eyes Sam lifted her hand from her stomach and handed the contents to Daniel. He took the two pictures, one he had seen at a distance the other new. The first, of Jack and Sam on their wedding day, they both looked so happy it brought tears to Daniel's eyes. The other, a small grainy picture, contained a small grey blob. There was barely a baby yet.
"I'm about 2½ months pregnant, that's why I fainted. Jack and I had been trying for so long" she wiped her eyes
"It seems ironic that we managed to create a baby during the most stressful time in our marriage and not at any other point"
Sam looked over at Daniel who was squinting at the picture, trying to make it look anything other than a blob.
"Without a Dad it's going to need a couple of good uncles. Charlie's already volunteered, do you think you could be one too? Her voice grew quiet as she finished her request.
Daniel was on the verge of tears now
"I would be honoured, thank you"
Daniel returned her pictures and took her hand. Sam leaned back on the bed looking exhausted.
"You get some sleep and keep this little one safe. I'll see you later"
"Thanks Daniel" Sam whispered as Daniel walked away from the bed. He vowed to do everything he could to protect his new friend and her child.
Just as he reached the door Daniel stopped struck with a shocking thought. 'How on earth was Jack going to take the news?'
