Chapter Ten

Daniel had spent a fitful night on the couch. He had woken with a start from another in a long line of reoccurring nightmares. He was just thankful that Tanya wasn't next to him to bear the brunt of his violent waking. By the time she had gotten up he'd already gone through his morning routine and was making breakfast.

There weren't very many places other than out to the dock that Daniel could go, and yet somehow they found time getting away from them. Before they knew it the day was dying once again, only this time Tanya wasn't as interested in starting another fire.

Tanya showed off her cooking skills and afterward the laughed their way through a clumbsy game of chess. Tanya had never really played before and the bottle of wine wasn't helping her learn the rules. It was getting close to midnight before Daniel found himself unable to make any move that didn't lead to him placing her into checkmate.

"You look tired." Tanya noted as Daniel started putting the pieces away.

"I'm sure it comes as no surprise that I didn't sleep well last night."

"Not really." Tanya got up and came over to his side of the table. "You know I noticed that there are two bedrooms around here. You don't have to sleep on the couch."

"So I'm out of the dog house?" Daniel teased.

"Oh yeah." Tanya leaned in and gave him a quick kiss. "If I promise to make myself scarce after you fall asleep, can I tuck you in?"

"I can't think of a reason why not."

Daniel had become skilled at transferring into bed on his own. He didn't get undressed or even pull back the sheets, he wanted to make sure that she left before he feel asleep. She didn't question it and simply snuggled up next to him. For a while she simply listened to Daniel's heart while he stroked her hair.

"You know so much about me…or at least my problems, but what about you?"

"What about me?"

"I don't know, anything you want to share. Where did you grow up? Why did you join the Airforce? What got a bright girl like you mixed up in something as insane as the SGC?"

"Uh…well I guess the easiest questions to answer is that I grew up in New Mexico, Santa Fe."

"I was on a dig near Santa Fe back in college. It's a beautiful place."

"I do miss it. However I wanted to be a doctor of bio-engineering and I couldn't afford it on my own. The Airforce was more than willing to pay for it with just a few years of service. When I was done with my mandatory years I decided to stay, and then one day some men came to ask me if I was interested in a once in a life time opportunity in Springs."

"So your brother moved with you to Colorado?"

"Yeah, when I got stationed at the SGC he decided to transfer as well."

"Keep a close eye on you?"

"Exactly." Tanya chuckled. "When you've been with someone since before birth, it's kind of hard to just go your separate ways entirely. Although I've been thinking more and more about asking him to move away."

"Not on my account I hope."

"Partly." Tanya replied with a playful shove. "Of course it's not that easy to get rid of him. Although I almost killed him before he was even born."

"How?"

"Our birth was complicated, ended up in a c-section. The protective amniotic sacs got broken before they should have, and my cord got looped around his neck. He was almost strangled, and then I almost strangled him again the other night."

"You're a dangerous one."

Tanya laughed and rolled over onto Daniel so that she could wrap her hands around his throat. Daniel reached up and carded his hands into her hair to pull her in for a kiss. She released her light hold on his throat. Once free of the kiss she sat back and traced her nails down his chest.

"How far down can you feel?"

"Guess." Daniel smiled and closed his eyes.

Tanya's eyes glittered with mischief. She wriggled back so that she could sit on his hips. She untucked his shirt and unbuttoned it from the bottom up. It still startled her to see the white scaring running down his stomach. She ran her fingernail back and forth across the skin just above the waist of his jeans.

"Can you feel that?"

"No."

"Hmmm…"

Tanya put her hands on his sides for support and leaned down. She kissed his belly button to see if she'd get a reaction. Daniel's breathing remained as calm as before. Determined to discover the exact line of demarcation Tanya continued her search. When her lips touched his skin about three inches above belly button Daniel's breath hissed across his teeth.

Having found the line where his sensation started Tanya reached up and ran her fingertips back and forth between the two. Daniel took a deep breath and growled deeply in relaxation. Tanya scratched either side of his ribs were he still had full sense of touch.

Daniel wrapped his arms around Tanya. He snaked his hands under her shirt and raked his fingernails gently down her back. Tanya pushed herself up and softly bit Daniel's shoulder. With a quiet moan Daniel hugged her close. He couldn't arch his back, but he pulled his shoulders together to press his chest against hers.

"Are you enjoying this, or am I just being cruel?" Tanya asked.

"Yes."

The pair laughed. Daniel brought his hands out from under her shirt and put his hands on either side of her face. He stared at her adoringly until she blushed. He seized the opportunity to engage her in a passionate kiss. Tanya pulled away and then leaned in to nibble on Daniel's ear.

When the phone on the nightstand rang they both froze. Daniel sighed heavily and tried to ignore the ringing device. Tanya did her best to ignore it as well. However after the tenth ring the moment had been destroyed. She rolled off him and he reached over to answer the phone.

"What?" Daniel growled.

"Am I interrupting something?" Jack's voice sang.

"Yes."

"Sorry. I just needed to make sure where you are."

"Jack, I don't need a baby sitter. We're just fine."

"Yeah, well tell it to the cops."

"Oh God…any cop in particular?"

"David!" Tanya gasped.

Daniel chuckled as Tanya dove under the covers in embarrassment. He listened to the rest of Jack's story and assure him they'd be back in a few days. Hanging up the phone he lifted up the covers and peeked in on Tanya. Her cheeks flushed an attractive pink.

"Apparently you haven't been answering the cell phone your brother gave you."

"It doesn't get service out here. What has he done?"

"He has filed a missing persons report on you and a warrant for my arrest."

"I should have killed him in the womb while I still had the chance."

"You don't mean that."

"No…I don't." Tanya admitted. "I just sometimes wish I could get away from him."

"Have you ever been off world?"

"Never."

"Everyone at the SGC is supposed to take at least one off world trip."

"I've never gotten around to it."

"I'll have to change that."

"Somewhere far away?"

"Far, far, far away."