Author's Note: Written for 'Save Your Photos Day' (24 September).

Daniel glances around the space he has been told is his lab but he feels like while he is taking everything in all at once, he also isn't taking it in at all. He's no attachment to the space or the papers that are scattered across the surface of the desk, or the books that are stacked on the shelves. Yet he tells himself to keep looking in the hope that there is something, somewhere, that will help him unlock the memories he can't yet reach.

He has remembered a few things and he's appreciated Teal'c's help in filling in gaps about the others but he needs more – and he wants to be able to fill in the other pieces of the puzzle by himself.

He steps further into the lab and runs a hand along the edge of the desk. There are various items lying around; some he assumes belong to him but most he guesses now belong to Jonas. His gaze lingers before he heads for the shelves and reverently traces the covers of the books with his fingertips, trying to imprint the patterns and words in his mind, in case the smallest detail sparks a recollection.

But all he finds are titles and names and references to historical events that he hasn't the faintest notion about.

With a sigh, he glances around the lab before his gaze lands on the bottom drawer of the desk. There's something familiar; as if it holds the key he is looking for, so he moves closer.

The drawer doesn't budge but, without thinking, he hits the top right corner of it with the palm of his hand twice before he nudges the door up slightly by the handle and it slides out easily. Inside, he finds a large, intricately designed hard-backed book and carefully sets it on the desk. It's a photo book and he smiles at the images he sees.

The photographs have been taken at various stages throughout the years, ever since SG-1 became a team, and for a moment a feeling of sadness overtakes Daniel when he remembers why he started the project. He'd only been back on Earth a couple of weeks and had been spending his nights between staying at the SGC and staying in Jack's spare room. It was one of the nights he had been at Jack's and, after a couple of beers, he'd admitted that he had already lost two families – firstly his parents when he was young, and then Sha're, Skaara and the people of Abydos – and he refused to go through it again. He then admitted that he saw Jack, Sam and even Teal'c as the closest thing he had to a family and he wanted to document his new life with them by his side.

At the time, he didn't think much about it but looking back, he realizes that Jack organized their first team night just a week later. He remembers it being slightly awkward in the beginning but they had soon relaxed and it had given them an opportunity to get to know each other better, away from their missions.

He smiles fondly as he glances at one of the photos he took from that night. Teal'c is front and center of the frame and his expression is one of confusion as he tried a corn dog for the first time. But it's Sam and Jack who catch his attention; they are standing to the side of Teal'c and Jack is leaning towards Sam, as if he is saying something that is intended for her ears only. Her smile tells Daniel that she found it amusing.

He flips over a few pages and stares at another photograph. This one was taken during the team's third year together; it was a couple of months after their mission to Netu and one of those rare occasions where SG-1 had finally a run of straightforward missions so, naturally, Jack had called for a celebratory team night. Since they'd also been given a few days off the mission rota, they had decided to be slightly more generous with their alcohol intake. They weren't drunk but certainly on their way to being tipsy and as the photo was taken Jack had his arm around Sam's shoulders. He was grinning widely while Sam was also laughing as she had her arm around his waist. They looked comfortable and happy together, with none of the tension or usual boundaries that existed between them.

Daniel looks thoughtful as he continues to flip through the pages but as he gets towards the end, it's one specific picture which stops him in his tracks. It's one he took of his friends as they sat on the deck at Jack's house and he remembers the moment as if it was yesterday.

They were having another team night at Jack's but the mood felt different; they were all on edge, waiting to see who would be the first to poke the elephant in the room. Sam – and Jack – had finally been released from the infirmary following their confrontation with Adrian Conrad and his men, and while it should have been a cause for celebration because they had found Sam in time and Jack's injuries were healing well, everything else was wrong. There was now a Goa'uld on the loose, while none of them appeared to be able to shake the realization that they were so close to losing Sam. They hadn't been in a jovial mood and the usual teasing and fun that accompanied their team nights was nowhere to be found. They'd eaten in virtual silence and around halfway through the movie choice, Sam and Jack had quietly excused themselves. Daniel had followed after a while not realizing that he'd stumbled across a private moment when he finally found them both outside.

"I'm glad you're going to be okay, Sir."

"I've had worse," he replied quietly.

Silence fell between them and Daniel realized there was no way he could head back into the house without being heard. He toyed with the idea of letting them know he was there when Sam spoke.

"It was my fault – that you were shot," she added when Jack turned his head to look at her.

"How did you come to that conclusion?"

"You came to find me."

"We don't leave our people behind, Carter. You should know that by now."

She dipped her head. "I should – and I do – but this time felt different. I was missing for two days before –"

"I know," he interrupted harshly, and then sighed. His voice was softer when he spoke again. "I know."

"– I wasn't sure if there had been any contact," she continued quietly, "if there had been any clues to tell you where I was. I didn't know how long had passed, but I knew – I knew my time was running out and – when you suddenly appeared, I –"

Sam took a shaky breath and Daniel watched as Jack studied her for a moment before he reached out and put his arm around her shoulders. Instinctively, she leaned into his touch and rested her head on his shoulder.

"Thank you for finding me in time, Sir."

"I should have found you sooner."

She lifted her head so she could look at him. "You found me in time," she repeated. "That's what matters."

"It almost wasn't enough."

"Colonel –"

"I don't know what I'd have done if I had been just a few seconds later. Sam," he breathed. "If you'd –"

"Jack."

His gaze snapped to hers and Daniel found himself holding his breath as he watched Sam reach out and place her hand on the side of Jack's face, forcing him to meet her eye.

"You found me in time."

"I did," he eventually agreed, "but I'm just going to need some time."

She canted her head. "For what?"

"Forgiveness," he shrugged halfheartedly.

"There's nothing to forgive."

"I need to forgive myself." Sam frowned in confusion and Jack offered her a wry smile. "Although I'm not sure I'll ever be fully successful when it involves you."

"I don't understand."

"Usually I'm pretty good at focusing on the job; doing what needs to be done…"

"But?" Sam pressed quiet when he didn't continue.

"I once told you that I cared about you – and more than I was supposed to." He met Sam's gaze when he murmured, "that hasn't changed and as much as I've tried to lock those feelings away and keep it in the room – they are still there, Sam."

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

The two of them shared a sad smile and as Sam returned her head to Jack's shoulder, Daniel quietly took a photo of the couple before he retreated back into the house.

Gently, Daniel closes the photobook and thinks back to when he'd been sitting with Sam just a couple of days ago. He'd been in a tent; not knowing who he was, where he was, or how he even got there, when he'd asked Sam if there had ever been anything between them. He winces as he remembers her hesitation, her surprise, at the question but now he understands why she'd been uncomfortable.

And it wasn't a case of unrequited feelings as he'd originally thought, but because it was reciprocated. It just wasn't with him.

With a sigh, he places the book carefully back inside the drawer.

He remembers everything now, yet with the joy and relief that the discovery brings so too is the heartache of the secrets they hold.

With a final glance around the lab, Daniel decides to go, find his friends and tell them his memories have returned; that he is once again Doctor Daniel Jackson, but he vows not to tell them everything he knows, because some things aren't meant to be known by others.