Looking around at everyone gathered in his house, Jack could not quite believe how happy he was and how many people were important enough to be gathered at one of the biggest events of the year. This was the perfect example of how many people now held important enough roles in his family's life and had made it to his daughter's second birthday. Pleased that the Prometheus had been found, it meant that Sam, Daniel and others were able to be present. Jack was pretty sure that had the Prometheus not made it home, after over four days delay, even Sam would have refused to help host the birthday party. It was a stark contrast to the girl's first birthday. Fully aware that Sam bore herself some guilt for the Prometheus' predicament as they had strayed slightly off course to check out the nebula she was interested in, Jack could feel the strain even now as she sat on the opposite side of the yard, laughing with General Hammond and Sergeant Siler. Things had been tense ever since Sam had blamed him for not being able to join the Prometheus on the mission.

Twenty four hours into the ship's non-communication, Jack had made a passing comment to Sam that perhaps it was better that she had not been on the mission due to the ship seeming to have vanished. He had been leading the missions to the planets along the possible pathway whilst Sam was sitting in her laboratory running through calculations, seeing if there was anything she could find. She had not taken kindly to his comment, snapping at him that perhaps she could have been of use to them with her expertise. Since then, they had barely spoken. It was the polar opposite of Daniella's first birthday when Sam had not spoken to Jack out of anger, this time it was both of them angry with each other.

It was sad to say, but Jack was beginning to get tired of Sam's mood and reckless behaviour. Even now she seemed to prefer everyone else's company over her own daughter's, although Jack was busy being sociable, too, so that was possibly not a fair comment. Taking a mouthful of his drink, Jack's eyes continued scanning the gathering. Sam, Siler and the general were all deep in a conversation that caused all three of them to laugh frequently. Standing near to them were Carpenter, Jonas, Major Lorne and Janet. Jonas had returned from Kelowna especially for the day, to catch up with his friends and celebrate with Daniella. During his year being assigned to Stargate Command, Jonas had worked closely with both Sam and Carpenter so had grown close to both officers. He was pleased to see both Janet and Carpenter at the event, although he would never expect anything less of Janet. A short while before Sam had been kidnapped by Osiris, Janet had made her problems with the pair of them clear, but she did seem more at ease with the two of them being together now. As for Carpenter, she had definitely started socialising with the entire group more.

The group turned in unison and Jack's eyes followed theirs to Daniel and Sarah approaching them. Daniel had a smile on his face, Sarah a hesitant half-smile and Jack immediately glanced over at Sam whose back was turned to the new arrivals. Unsure if Sam had come into contact with Sarah since the Osiris ordeal, Jack cursed Daniel for bringing her without asking. All he could realistically do was hope that Sam took long enough to notice that she would not be affected, or that Sarah was still unhinged enough that she would not want to stay too long. Although he did not want her to be too unhinged to cause more problems.

After less than a minute, Carpenter seemed to make her excuses and then walked away from the group. Jack's eyes followed her as she walked straight into his house and then his attention was drawn to the small play-set in the middle of the yard. Climbing over the metal frame were Daniella, Jay and Karen's son, Aaron; Daniella smaller than the other two but she was fearlessly keeping up with both of them. Jack was not sure from which parent she received her fearless genes. Sitting on the ground near to the children were Laira and Karen, keeping an eye on all three children. Standing near to the children playing were Cassie and Sasha who were deep in conversation. Apparently Cassie had a new boyfriend, however, she had not brought him and she kept avoiding the conversation whenever Jack tried to bring up the subject. Janet walked past the two younger women, pausing for a quick word before heading over to claim the spare seat at the table with Sam, Siler and the general, causing Jack's eyes to go back to Daniel and Sarah.

The newcomers were now alone with Jonas until Teal'c joined them and Jack noticed Sarah shrinking closer to Daniel at the Jaffa's proximity. Jack could feel apprehension building within him and fought the urge to go running over and yell at Daniel as to how inconsiderate he was being. Sarah then seemed to pull Daniel slightly away from the other two and spoke closely to him. Daniel nodded and Sarah smiled politely at the other two men before walking away and then Daniel approached Sam.

Standing up, Sam hugged Daniel and then nodded slightly, a sympathetic look on her face as Daniel then walked away and seemed to be heading towards Jack.

"Hey," Daniel greeted and Jack nodded, taking another gulp of his drink and scanning the yard again rather than look at Daniel. Sam had sat back down and Jonas and Teal'c had been approached by Cassie and Sasha.

"Afternoon."

"I was just saying to Sam, that I have to go."

"Because Sarah needs to get back to the Nut-house?" It was the frustration at Daniel having brought Sarah in such a misguided way that was causing Jack's sarcasm and only a small part of him regretted his comment.

"That's unfair, Jack." Quickly glancing at Daniel, Jack could see the pain and confusion on the younger man's eyes and for an instant Jack felt guilty.

"How fair is it to bring Osiris to my daughter's second birthday?"

"She's not Osiris."

"Do you think Sam sees it that way? Or Carpenter?"

"She needs to start leading a normal life, Jack."

"Not here, Danny, not here in my home with the people that Osiris made suffer."

"Even if it wasn't Sarah, wasn't even Osiris in her when it happened?" Jack looked at Daniel. "Nicola's torture was at Sam's hand not Sarah's."

"Maybe she has a different issue with Sarah, but it doesn't change how insensitive it was to bring her."

"Have you even asked Sam?"

"Have you? I think I know Sam a bit better than you do."

"Then why are you on opposite sides of the party and barely speaking?"

Fuming internally, Jack snapped, "Goodbye, Daniel," and walked away from his friend, downing his drink as he did so. Daniella's second birthday was supposed to be better than her first, but it seemed that the year had made no differences. It did not matter that he was now in a relationship with Sam, they were still not talking on such a happy occasion and even his friendship with Daniel was showing signs of strain. To calm himself, Jack knelt down carefully so his face was level with Daniella's as she was climbing over the metal frame of her play-set. "Hey, girlie." His apprehension over the day diminished slightly as Daniella grinned at him, giggling crazily.