A few seconds after Sam left, Daniel made his way over to the far side of the kitchen window and silently congratulated himself on the perfect vantage point to watch his friends.

Daniel knew how his friends felt about each other. He'd known for a long time and when he thought about, he could have been the first to realize there was something stirring between the pair even before they did. He had been the one, in the first year of the Stargate Program, to be transported to another reality; a reality where Sam and Jack had been engaged. He chuckled softly to himself as he remembered the look on both of their faces when he'd told them about their alternate counterparts.

But while they had brushed off the potential significance, or otherwise, of that reality at the time, it wasn't a one-off. Two years later, when a Doctor Samantha Carter stepped through the quantum mirror to their reality, her and Jack had been married.

Ever since that day, Daniel had decided to pay more attention to how his own teammates acted around each other. He never interfered or made it look like he was studying them, but something he'd learned over the years as an archaeologist was being able to simply sit back and observe unobtrusively as he tried to come up with answers to some of life's great mysteries. Pretty quickly, he'd discovered Sam and Jack were an entire mystery onto themselves.

On more than one occasion he'd witnessed how the two of them had reacted when the other lay injured in the infirmary or they had been declared missing. It was as if a part of their souls fractured at the news and was only able to be pieced carefully back together again when they knew the other would be okay.

Daniel worried about them both. He knew they'd never crossed a line – he didn't ever feel the need to ask, he just knew – but he had watched for years as to what every decision, every sacrifice, had cost Sam and Jack. The pain and upset and suffering they had caused themselves and each other; the way they had slowly self-destructed to the point where it was almost too late – and it was all because of their job.

Duty and honor over love and happiness.

Daniel sighed heavily. He just regretted that it took Jacob's death to make Sam and Jack finally see sense and talk and spend time together again.

When Sam's family had visited, Daniel had observed her and Jack over the week – and whatever they wanted to call this thing between them, it was still there. They still worked. They really were perfect for each other and helped to balance the other out in ways they didn't even notice. Daniel wanted his friends to be happy. It was the least they deserved after everything they had given to the cause over the past eight years.

And Daniel knew, as he stood at the window and looked out towards the dock, that now was finally their time.

"Daniel Jackson." He jumped as Teal'c's voice cut through his thoughts. "Do you not believe it would be more prudent for us to acquire the beverages as promised?"

He turned from the window and frowned. "Hm?"

Teal'c continued to stare and Daniel realized he expected him to move away from the window.

"Oh." He glanced back at the window, then sighed, before he crossed the kitchen to help his friend. Teal'c seemed to have everything under control, however, so Daniel watched him for a moment before he narrowed his eyes.

"You know something."

"I do not."

"Then what am I talking about?"

"You are curious as to whether there has been a change in O'Neill and Colonel Carter's relationship," he answered pointedly as he lifted another two cans of soda.

"OK," Daniel conceded, "so maybe you do know what I'm talking about."

He thought he caught Teal'c's fleeting smile before he schooled his expression.

"Well," he pressed a moment later, "do you?"

Teal'c raised a brow before he set the drinks back down onto the counter. Daniel shrugged. "They seem – different."

"They appear to be acting like their antiquated selves."

Daniel couldn't help but smile. "I think you mean their 'old selves' Teal'c, but that's my point. They're different. Like the old days."

When Teal'c's expression changed, the younger man turned to face the window. "When was the last time you remember them flirting or laughing or just being happy in each other's company?"

"Are you not happy that the former relationship between our friends appears to have returned?"

Daniel looked at him in surprise. "No, I am," he stressed, "but –" He pushed his glasses up so he could pinch the bridge of his nose, "something has happened. I don't know what, but it's big if it's made them go back to how they were."

"Perhaps O'Neill has said something of interest to Colonel Carter," Teal'c suggested.

Daniel spun around to face him but Teal'c was no longer paying him attention. He had returned to the task of selecting their drinks.

"You do know something!"

Teal'c's eyebrow twitched and Daniel huffed out a laugh. "But you're not going to tell me," he nodded. "General Hammond wouldn't tell me anything either before we left the base – that was a weird conversation," he added distractedly.

"I do not believe there was much of a conversation."

"Yeah, that's what I mean," Daniel said as he turned back to the window once more. "He just – oh. Teal'c, quick! Come here."

Teal'c set the drinks down and joined Daniel who quickly pointed towards the window. "Look!"

Both men watched as Jack joined Sam at the edge of the dock, right before his arms slid around her waist.

"I knew something was going on," Daniel exclaimed as he distractedly slapped Teal'c's arm in triumph. "I knew it," he mumbled.

"To what are you referring, Daniel Jackson?"

His eyes widened as he gestured towards their friends. "That – Sam and Jack. He – he's – he's embracing her."

"I believe O'Neill is merely demonstrating the art of effective fishing to Samantha Carter."

With that, Teal'c turned away and moved back to grab the drinks for the third time.

"Wh–" Daniel frowned as he glanced at Teal'c, then to Sam and Jack, and back.

When Teal'c had gathered more than enough drinks in his arms, he straightened and met Daniel's gaze. It took a few seconds before he caught the glint in his eye.

"Was that a joke?"

Teal'c inclined his head. "Indeed."

Daniel grinned. "So?"

"Like yourself, I also believe there has been a change in their relationship –"

"Do –"

"– however," Teal'c continued firmly, "I also believe they will inform us of such changes when they are ready."

"Yeah," he said, "I guess you're right."

He risked one final glance at his friends, just in time to see Jack tenderly run his hand down Sam's arm before he stepped away, and Daniel grinned.

"Busted," he whispered.

"Daniel Jackson."

His amused chuckle turned into a cough as he turned to find Teal'c staring at him almost disapprovingly. "I believe now would be a good time to join our friends."

He nodded and swiped another four bottles of beer from the counter as he followed Teal'c out of the kitchen. He couldn't wait for dinner.