-- Chapter Ten --

Daniel walked with Katep between the tents, toward the sound of laughter. They entered the open area in the centre of the encampment to find Jack, Teal'c and Baraka racing around the campfire. Looking around, Daniel saw Sam standing some distance away, watching the playfulness before her with a sombre expression.

He sighed. She had been growing increasingly distant over the last two months. Ever since Jack and Daniel had saved her and Teal'c from those three Jaffa.

"Baraka wins!"

Daniel turned his attention back to the rest of his friends. Jack scooped up the little boy and sat him firmly on his shoulder for a victory lap around the fire.

"You have got to be the fastest boy in Egypt," cheered Jack.

Looking back at Sam, Daniel saw her cross her arms over her chest and sigh. It pained him to see his wife so sad. But she adamantly refused to talk about it.

Her behaviour was odd. Jack and Teal'c had agreed with him that she was acting out of character. But they had also agreed that it was because she was angry at Daniel and Jack for saving her life and possibly altering the timeline. Teal'c had accepted the situation far faster than Sam had.

"Okay, I want to show you something," Jack said haltingly in the local language as he put the boy back on the ground. The lessons from Katep, Baraka and Daniel were paying off. The rest of SG-1 was slowly becoming conversational with the local people. However, Katep and Baraka seemed to be picking up English at a faster rate.

And that was another fact that had earned Daniel more than one scolding from Sam. English wouldn't exist in Egypt for millennia, or anywhere else, for that matter. He had tried to explain that he wasn't deliberately teaching Katep and Baraka the language, they were just picking it up from the conversations between the members of SG-1, but she wouldn't listen.

She had told them, shouting, that they shouldn't even be living among the people here. That they were undoubtedly having a regular influence on their lives. Arguments that ancient Egypt was a society of communities, that everyone in a village contributed to sustaining the life of each individual, that they'd never survive on their own, also fell on deaf ears.

Jack picked up a large branch and a small squash. He put the branch in the boy's hands so he was holding it like a bat and demonstrated swinging. Daniel almost laughed. Although Katep had taken official responsibility for his nephew after Salatis's death, Jack spent a lot of time with the boy.

"Keep your eye on the ball." Jack pointed to the squash, smiling at Baraka.

"That's not a ball! It's a squash!"

"Use your imagination!"

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Sam stormed up to Jack, shouting, arms waving. "You can't teach him baseball!"

"For crying out loud, it's just a game, Carter."

"A game that won't be invented for thousands of years!"

"How can teaching a kid baseball change history?"

"That's exactly my point! We don't know!" She turned her face abruptly to the sky, arms stretched out, and released a primal scream.

Daniel approached them quickly, but before he could mediate the situation, Sam began to stalk off. He watched her go for a moment before he sighed and dropped his head. Following her would only make matters worse. Daniel had learned that the hard way.

Three weeks after Teal'c got his symbiote, Sam and Jack had argued about the effect that killing those Jaffa might have had on the timeline. Daniel had followed her out of the tent and tried to talk to her. All he had managed to accomplish with that act was to have her yell at him for five solid minutes and then not utter a word to anyone for the rest of the day. It was best for everyone to let her cool down on her own.

He had watched her several times over the past weeks as she sat at the top of the hill where Jack had married them. Sometimes, he'd go up and sit next to her, watching as the workers continued to build the tomb below. But she still wouldn't discuss her concerns with him.

Sam disappeared between the tents. Daniel knew she'd be headed for the hill again. She'd be back by suppertime. Not that knowing that made him feel better.

It had been getting worse as the weeks wore on. And now, months after the deaths of those three Jaffa, she had almost completely withdrawn from him. Daniel's one comfort was that Sam did seem to be willing to spend time with Teal'c.

The dynamic between the four of them had definitely changed. Just after they had arrived in ancient Egypt, Jack and Teal'c had spent a lot of time together, probably to give Sam and Daniel quality time alone. Since 'that day', however, Sam had been spending more and more time by herself or in Teal'c's company.

Though he would never admit it to her, and only grudgingly admitted it to himself, Daniel was slightly jealous to think that Sam might be confiding in Teal'c instead of him. It hurt more than a little, but he forced himself to be relieved that at least she was talking to someone.

"Sorry, Daniel."

"It's not your fault, Jack," he replied, not looking up. "It's my fault. I knew that she would rather die than possibly change history." Daniel squeezed his eyes closed. "I just couldn't let her go."

Jack laid a hand on Daniel's shoulder and gave it a comforting squeeze. "Neither could I, Danny-boy." He sighed. "I just hope she forgives us soon."

"Me too."

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As Daniel expected, Sam reappeared shortly before supper was ready, accompanied by Teal'c. She was silent throughout the meal and then went to bed early. Jack, Teal'c and Daniel stayed up for a while, talking mostly about Sam and her disturbing behaviour. Finally, Daniel decided to retire for the night.

When he entered their tent, he found Sam lying on her side, her eyes closed. He climbed into bed behind her.

"Sam?" he whispered. "Are you asleep?"

There was no response.

Daniel pressed his lips gently against her shoulder. "I love you," he said softly. Rolling onto his back, he weaved his fingers together behind his head. Even though she was physically near and still sharing his bed, Daniel felt like she was absent. He missed her. Staring at the ceiling of their tent, he sighed and tried to relax.

Beside him, Sam moved. He looked over at her. She rolled to face him and placed her head on his shoulder, laying her arm across his chest. He wrapped his arms around her and placed a tender kiss on the top of her head. Moments like this were few and far between lately, and Daniel was determined to make it last as long as possible. He held her desperately.

Then, she uttered a soft sigh.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

He felt her nod her head against his shoulder.

"You know you can talk to me, right?"

There was a long pause, then another nod.

Daniel swallowed the tears that were threatening him. "I wish you'd forgive me, Sam."

She started to pull away, and he tightened his arms around her. "No please," he choked. "I'm sorry, Sam. Please just let me hold you."

She looked up at him and touched his face, wiping a tear from his cheek. Then she kissed him. "I'm sorry, Daniel."

"Please talk to me."

"I will. I just— I need to figure it out first."

"Let me help you."

"I'm sorry, Daniel," she said again.

"Sam, I know it's selfish, but I just can't be sorry that Jack and I killed those Jaffa."

She turned her face into his shoulder but said nothing.

"They were going to kill you and Teal'c." Daniel exhaled heavily, staring again at the ceiling. He didn't even want to think about living in ancient Egypt without his Sam. Despite how she had pushed him away, he was still glad that she was safe. If he could go back to before he and Jack had killed those Jaffa, he'd do it all again. But he wasn't going to tell Sam that.

"It was just three Jaffa out of thousands of Ra's forces, Sam. The effect on the timeline can't possibly be significant. I know you didn't want us to kill them, but agonizing over their deaths is–is futile. It won't accomplish anything. They're dead. It's done. There's nothing anyone can do about it now."

Still, she said nothing.

Daniel squeezed his eyes shut. "Okay." He kissed the top of her head again. "Get some sleep. I love you."

The silence echoed in his ears until he finally fell asleep.

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The next morning, Daniel awoke to find himself alone in bed. It wasn't the first time in the last two months, but it still left him with an aching cavern in his chest. He knew Sam was safe. She'd be talking to Teal'c or at the hill.

Heading outside to face the day, Daniel found Jack just outside.

"Good morning, campers!" Jack said. He ducked his head, peering around Daniel's shoulder.

"She's not here."

Jack nodded. "Teal'c and I had quite a conversation last night after you went to bed."

"About Sam?"

"Well, no, not exactly. About this time travel thing and what we can do about Ra."

"Jack." Daniel sighed. "Sam—"

"I know!" Jack interrupted, a finger held in the air. "I know. But I'd really like to try to talk her into it one more time."

Daniel studied his friend. He knew Jack had been struggling with the inaction that Sam insisted on while they were in ancient Egypt. It bothered Daniel, too, though probably not as much as it did Jack. Having to sit idly by while people were killed and oppressed by Ra was certainly not Jack's idea of a good time.

But they'd had the 'let's join the rebellion' discussion with Sam a dozen times since arriving in the past. It never ended well.

"She doesn't want you to teach Baraka baseball, Jack. What makes you think she'll ever agree to participate in the rebellion?"

"I've gotta do something, Daniel. I'm going nuts! Progress on that tomb is ridiculously slow. I can't live like this. Not for years."

Daniel sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. He knew what Sam's reaction would be. It would be exactly the same it had been every other time Jack had brought the subject up.

"I wish you wouldn't, Jack."

"Daniel."

"I don't like living under Ra's rule any more than you do! But we're talking about Sam! My wife!" He looked at Jack desperately. "You know what will happen. It'll be even worse than yesterday. Even worse than every time she talks about those Jaffa."

"Look, Daniel, I'm sorry. But I don't regret doing what I did."

"I know. Neither do I. I'm grateful." He looked at his friend solemnly. "I killed one of them too, you know. But we both know that Sam didn't want us to do it."

"Damn it, Daniel. She's got to know that we wouldn't just sit back and watch her be killed. Killing those Jaffa saved not only her life, but Teal'c's as well."

"The integrity of the timeline is really important to her, Jack."

"All I want is one more chance to convince her. Teal'c and I think we've figured it out. Well, okay, it was mostly Teal'c."

Daniel stared at his friend. "What are you talking about?"

"He had these great ideas about time travel and paradoxes, and I can't explain any of it, but it sounded really great last night, and I think Carter will like it."

"Jack, I—"

"Just one more try, Daniel. I need you on my side here."

Daniel squinted at him, not wanting to say no, but not able to say yes, either.

"Please," Jack said softly.

Daniel sighed. That just wasn't fair. "If she says no..."

"Then I'll never bring it up again. I swear."

"Alright," Daniel said reluctantly.

"Yes!" Jack clapped a hand on Daniel's shoulder. "You'll see. Teal'c figured it all out."

"Sure, Jack." Daniel tried to share his enthusiasm, but he couldn't ignore the sinking feeling in his stomach.

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The conversation that Daniel was dreading began that night, just as they were finishing dinner.

"Carter, we've been thinking."

Sam had been silently picking at the last of her bread. She looked up at Jack.

"I think we have to be involved in the rebellion," Jack said.

Beside her, Daniel tensed, watching Sam carefully. She lifted her chin defiantly but said nothing.

"Teal'c, why don't you explain it."

"Our presence here has undoubtedly caused changes in our timeline. We have no way of knowing if these changes are large or small."

Sam gave a small nod, and Daniel allowed himself to relax slightly. So far, this was going far better than he had feared.

"Perhaps," Teal'c said, "it would be wise for us to use our knowledge of Earth's history. The recording that we will leave for our future selves upon completion of the tomb will allow us to confirm certain historical events. But it is in no way a comprehensive telling of those events."

Again, Sam nodded. Reaching out, Daniel laid his hand over hers. She looked down at their hands and closed her eyes briefly. But she didn't pull away. Daniel gently rubbed the back of her fingers with his thumb.

She looked up at Teal'c again as he continued.

"Since our future selves will not know everything that should have transpired, perhaps it is our responsibility to ensure that events in our history come to pass as they should." Teal'c paused, looking at Jack, Daniel and then at Sam. "We know that the rebellion forces Ra to abandon Earth. By participating in it, we can ensure that it proceeds that way."

Jack clapped his hands and rubbed them together. "See? Didn't I tell you it made sense? What do you think, Carter?"

Daniel watched as her cold gaze slid from Teal'c to Jack and then to himself. He looked at her imploringly, his heart racing. He never should have allowed Jack to talk him into this. Searching her eyes with desperation, Daniel silently begged her to say something. Her expression softened, and she turned back to Teal'c.

"You're right," she said softly.

Daniel felt his jaw drop.

"We are?" asked Jack, his eyebrows raised.

Teal'c leaned back from the table, also clearly surprised by Sam's response.

She nodded. "I keep coming to the same conclusion myself."

"So, you're okay with us helping to kick Ra's ass off the planet?"

"As long as we're extremely careful not to rush things or make anything happen that wasn't going to happen in the first place...yes, sir."

"Well, that's..." Jack laughed. "That's great!"

"Indeed," said Teal'c.

"Excuse me," Sam murmured. She stood up from the floor and left the tent.

"Huh. That went remarkably well." Jack glanced at the door of the tent before turning to Daniel. "Guess she's not mad at us any more."

Daniel was stunned. He still couldn't believe that she'd agreed to the plan.

"Did you two work everything out last night, or what?" asked Jack.

"She barely even talks to me," Daniel said, shaking his head. He stood up and walked to the door, watching as Sam moved through the encampment. When she disappeared from view, he turned back to his friends and sighed. "Teal'c, you've been spending a lot of time with her. Does she talk to you?"

"I have been instructing her in Kel'no'reem. She has told me that it is helping her to focus her thoughts and find peace."

"That's it? I assumed— I mean, she hasn't been confiding in you?"

"She has not. While our discussions have been many and lengthy, all have been regarding causality and paradoxes. In fact, it was from our conversation before the evening meal yesterday that I devised our plan."

Daniel ran an anxious hand through his hair. "Okay, but if she's agreed to make sure history turns out right, shouldn't she be back to herself again? Why'd she just leave?" He sighed. "I mean, I know living in ancient Egypt isn't exactly Sam's thing. But am I crazy, or did she seem happy at first?"

"Does it have to be one or the other?"

He shot Jack a withering glance.

"She seemed happy, Daniel."

"I believe you should continue your efforts to communicate with her," Teal'c said.

"I have been." Daniel threw his hands in the air, venting some of the frustration that had been building for the last two months.

"And?" asked Jack.

Daniel sat down again, next to his friends. "I have no idea. She used to talk to me about everything." He sighed heavily. "Lately, I'm lucky if she'll even look at me."

"Perhaps, now that Colonel Carter has altered her position regarding the rebellion, she will be more willing to discuss her troubles with you."

"T's got a point," Jack said, nudging Daniel's shoulder. "Why don't you go find out."

To be continued...
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