EPILOGUE

Daniel Jackson sat at his desk; the wooden surface lined with books, papers and small artifacts. His blue eyes scanned down the paper and his mouth moved silently as his pen filled it out. He sighed as he moved another paper aside and got to the next one.

"This is going to take me forever." He whispered as he saw the still thick stack and gathered it together, tapping it against the desk.

A white ceramic mug was gently placed beside the stack and Daniel's eyes widened when he saw it.

"Okay how did that--" He turned to see Gillian standing just over his shoulder, the nurse practitioner had her white coat off; the top button of her uniform shirt was unbuttoned. It was after hours and Daniel assumed she was getting ready to go home; her hair had been taken out of its bun and hung down her chest.

"Hi, I'm hope I'm not disturbing you. I just thought you could use the coffee."

Daniel licked his lips, clearing his throat. "Yeah I could, thank you."

Gillian looked down at the floor for a moment. "Uhh Daniel...I really think we need to talk."

"About what?" He buried his nose back in his paperwork; he seemed less than interested at his friend's sudden appearance.

"Ihya."

Daniel raised his head, pushing up his glasses. "She's dead Gillian. What's left to discuss about her?"

The look in his light blue eyes made Gillian almost turn away from him. There were many things that his gaze spoke of; one of them horror and disbelief even after the several weeks that had passed since the incident.

"You seem different towards me Daniel." Her voice an almost inaudible whisper, Daniel had to strain to hear her.

"No, I haven't been." He bent down to gaze at his paperwork once more, knowing full well that he didn't speak the truth but the last thing he wanted to do was discuss it now.

Gillian nodded, seeing that the issue between them wasn't going to get resolved tonight.

"Yeah well I guess it's my imagination." She tightened her lips as she left the office, her clacking heels growing faint as she made her way down the hall.

Daniel dropped his pen, taking off his glasses he pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. He knew that he had been treating Gillian differently and that what happened to Ihya had damaged their friendship but it wasn't exactly an easy subject between them.

A pair of hands suddenly touched Daniel's shoulders and he jumped; whipping around to see the wide astonished blue eyes belonging to Sam.

"Sam..." He sighed, wiping his hand down his face. "You scared me to death."

"Sorry." She gave his shoulders a rub. "You're awfully tense Daniel, everything okay?"

"Not really no." Daniel picked up his glasses and slipped them back on.

"What's wrong?"  Sam peered around his head, looking into his face.

Daniel shook his head. "I really don't want to get into it right now Sam, if you don't mind."

"Okay." She walked around him and turned him in his chair to face her. She stepped between his legs and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Is there anything you'd like to get into this weekend?"

He stared up into her face, her blue eyes shining with playfulness. "Well several things come to mind."

"Like what?"

Daniel encircled her waist pulling her even closer, olive drab pressing against olive drab.

"The art museum, maybe the film festival."

Sam seemed to almost pout, a sad expression making her lips purse. "That's all?"

A pair of strong hands suddenly grabbed her butt making her jump, bumping into Daniel's chest. She put her hands on his shoulders, bracing herself as the action teetered her.

"Hey hey don't wrinkle the uniform!"

That brought a chuckle from the archaeologist as his caress turned gentler; his hands sliding over her posterior slowly and carefully.

Sam nodded approvingly. "That's better, I hate to iron."

She moved her hands up his face and tipped it back, pressing her mouth to his.

Daniel opened his eyes, licking his lips; tasting the remnants of Sam's grape lip gloss.

"You're sure you want to spend the whole weekend with me?"

"Absolutely, we've had far too much time apart."

"I know, we haven't been together since we did General Hammond's play."

Her expression grew serious as she ran her slim fingers over his face. "A lot happened after that Daniel, it couldn't be helped."

"You're right, a lot did happen." His hands moved in the opposite direction roaming up her spine.

"But now we have this weekend to get reacquainted, starting tonight."

Sam smiled, showing her teeth as she leaned down for another kiss.

"I could really use a cup of coffee."

Daniel sighed as he wrapped his arms around Sam's back, stroking his fingers down her smooth fair skin.

Sam raised her head, a Cheshire cat grin on her face as she closed her eyes and pressed her lips to Daniel's. 

"I could too, so which one of us is getting up to go get it?" She put her head back down, leaning it against the archaeologist's chest. She nuzzled the strong flesh, kissing it.

"Sam…that tickles." Daniel smiled as he started to laugh; touching her shoulders he rolled them both over once. He was now on top of Sam, looking down into her face.

"You're going to make me get coffee aren't you?" He sighed heavily, his eyes softening to a sappy puppy dog expression.

"Oh here comes the eyes." Sam gazed up at him fluttering her eyelashes. "Why don't you just start whining Daniel or roll on your back and let me scratch your belly?"

That brought a grin to Daniel's face. "Wow you're really into kink aren't you?"

Sam giggled as she wrapped her arms around Daniel's waist and flipped them back over, once more taking the upper hand.

"Not really, but I'm open to suggestion." She gave him a kiss and slid off him; climbing down from his big bed. A t-shirt lay crumbled on the floor and she picked it up; slipping it on.

The t-shirt, a pale blue color, had the words ARCHAEOLOGISTS DO IT IN THE DIRT written across it in big bold letters.

"I'll get the coffee; you just rest and recover your strength."

Daniel tucked his arms under his head and sighed as he watched her; his t-shirt went down to her thighs and seeing her in it gave him a hot flash.

"Hurry up so I can reclaim my shirt."

Sam snapped him a salute. "Yes sir!" She lowered her hand from her face and headed for the kitchen.

Gillian sighed as she stood at the sink; elbows deep in warm soapy water.  She picked up another plate, the thick bubbles dripping from her hand as she plunked it into the sink. Her thoughts were jumbled; every single one that popped into her mind was about Daniel and the mess that the death of Ihya had caused between them. Another plate was rinsed and placed in the blue drain board as her hands dove back into the water for another one.

A pair of hands suddenly encircled her waist and she jumped, causing a large splash that sent a ton of soapy water onto her bare feet.

"Damn it Jack! You scared the hell out of me!"

"Sorry." Jack nuzzled the back of her neck. "I thought you heard me come in."

"Well I didn't." Gillian fidgeted in his arms, finally opening them and slithering out from under him.

Jack stepped back, his hands on his hips as he watched her stalk out of the kitchen; her annoyance clear as a flash of red hair, black short and white tank top him zipped past the door.

He sighed as he dropped his head back, wiping his hand down his face. He unzipped his olive drab jacket and shrugged it off as he went into the living room and tossed it over the edge of the sofa.

Jack stomped down the hall and opened the bedroom door; seeing his fiancée lying on the bed, her back to him.

"What's wrong with you? I said I was sorry about sneaking up on you like that."

Gillian said nothing, not one word and her silence only mystified her fiancé.

Jack walked over to the bed, his hands once more on his hips. He sat down on the edge of the bed folding his hands in front of him.

He leaned close to her and placed a hand in the center of her back; his heart sinking into his stomach when he felt it tremble and the soft sound of sniffling reached his ears.

"Gillian--" Jack's hand traveled to her shoulder and rolled her over; seeing her tear stained face.

His gaze softened as he touched her wet cheeks.

"Come here."

Gillian sat up, climbing into Jack's lap. She hugged him around his neck, burying her head in his shoulder. Daniel came into her mind again and the gaze in his eyes made a fresh wave of tears break over her; she sobbed into her fiancé's black t-shirt.

Jack said nothing; he simply held her close, stroked his hands down her loose hair and let the storm of tears rage on.

Gillian took a deep calming breath, trying to control her emotions as she hugged Jack tightly. Her tremors started to subside as she relaxed in his arms.

Jack sensed the change; the tension he had felt in her body seemed to lessen. "Gill?

He said quietly, not sure if she was ready to talk or not.

"Yeah?" Came the small reply, her voice sounding like a little girl.

"I'm not the one that upset you, am I?"  Jack licked his lips, hoping his question wouldn't agitate her anymore than she already was.

Gillian squeezed her eyes shut. "No."

"Then who?" Jack asked gently, pressing his hand to the back of her head.

His fiancée pulled away from him, wiping her eyes. "I tried to talk to Daniel tonight but he wouldn't. He just said that he hasn't been treating me any differently and went back to his paperwork."

He nodded solemnly. "But he has, right? Ever since Ihya died?"

"Yeah, we used to sit down in the lunch room and talk about archaeology over coffee. We sort of had this little breakfast date, at least twice a week we'd cut up waffles and talk about ancient cultures and languages." Gillian wiped the wet marks from her cheeks. "But now… he won't even say hi to me much less have breakfast with me."

A heartbroken look appeared on her face.

"He's my friend Jack and it's tearing me up inside that Ihya has ruined my friendship with Daniel. I miss him and the way he looks at me now just destroys me."

"I know." Jack pulled her into another hug, he hated seeing her like this; it broke his heart to see her so miserable over the situation with Daniel.  "I'll talk to him Gill."

"You can't Jack; if you do it's going to look like I sent you to mend broken fences for me." 

Gillian sighed, enjoying the comforting embrace of her fiancé's strong arms around her.

"This situation with Daniel and I is something we're going to have to work out on our own."

"You want something to eat? I'll make dinner."

Her eyes snapped open.  "You will?"

"Yeah." Jack rubbed his hands down her back.  "Whatever you want."

"Why don't we just call the Fabricimo Brothers and let them deliver dinner?"  Gillian turned sideways, curling up in his lap. "I just wait to stay in this bed with you."

"Well you can after I call the pizza place." Jack put one hand on her back; the other he tucked under her legs and lifted her gently off his lap, placing her in the bed beside him. He touched her chin and turned her face towards him.

"Just give me like 15 minutes to order dinner and get us something to drink, okay?"

"Okay."

Jack closed his eyes and gave her a gentle kiss. "Just stay here and relax."

He climbed off the bed, closing the door behind him as he went down the hall into the kitchen.

The black cordless phone was snatched off his charger as he dialed a cell phone number. The phone rang a few times before it was picked up and a familiar female voice answered it.

"Sam?"

"Hi Colonel."

Jack peeked around the wall and glanced down the hall making sure the bedroom door was still closed.

"Sam, I need you to do something for me."

"Sure, what is it?"

"I need you to ask Daniel about Gillian."

Sam sighed through the line. "I know they're still not talking, but the last time I brought it up he didn't want to talk about it."

"Well try again Sam; he should be nice and relaxed now that you're there with him." Jack ran his fingers through his hair. "This has got to get resolved, this thing between them is tearing them both up. Gillian was crying in our bedroom because of it and lately Daniel's been as warm and friendly as a dried mummy."

"I know its rough sir but there's not much we can do."

Jack leaned with his back against the kitchen counter. "We have to try something Sam, please."

"All right, I'll try. Believe me I don't like seeing them not speak anymore than you do."

He sighed in relief, grinning. "Thanks Sam."

"Any time, good night sir."

"Good night." 

Jack hung up the phone and dialed the pizza parlor, feeling a little bit better. He knew that things between Gillian and Daniel needed to be worked out on their own but a gentle push couldn't possibly hurt.

At least he hoped not.

Sam tucked her cell phone into her purse and walked back into the bedroom; climbing onto the bed towards Daniel.

"So who was that?"

"Oh no one to worry about, just a friend." She slid into his arms, leaning her head on his chest.

Daniel sighed, wrapping her arms around Sam; kissing her blond hair. "Did you tell whoever that you were unavailable this weekend?"

"Yeah, they figured I was busy." Sam kissed Daniel's collarbone and up his neck.

He grinned, turning his head towards her shoulder and rested his chin on it; groaning at the brush of Sam's soft lips against his skin.

"God I missed you Sam."

"I missed you too." She moved over his stubbly chin and cheek.  She thought about what the colonel said and cleared her throat.

"Daniel?"

"What?" 

Sam stretched out beside him, the couple now lying face to face.

"Why did Gillian look upset when she left your office earlier today?" Her blue eyes were inquisitive, framed by her long brown lashes.

He raised his hand, wiping it down his face. "She asked me why I've been treating her differently ever since Ihya was killed."

Sam nodded. "Have you?"

Daniel shook his head, licking his lips. "Yeah I guess I have."  He rolled into his back; folding his hands across his chest.

"Why? Do you blame her for what she did?" Sam scooted closer to him.

He turned his head towards her; those startling blue eyes of his fixing on her.

"No, I really don't." Daniel rolled onto his side. "I mean…I understand why she did it."

He closed his eyes briefly. "Ihya was my daughter but not- if that makes any sense. She tried to use me the way Hathor did and she tortured Jack to death to try and convince me to cooperate."

He cleared his throat. "I couldn't protect my friend nor could I save him, even though Jack died for the greater good that still didn't alleviate my guilt about it."

Sam reached out and stroked her fingers up his face. "So you treated Gillian differently because you felt you failed her as a friend?"

Those blue eyes shifted down towards the bed as he propped himself up on one elbow.

"I guess part of me felt that, the other part couldn't believe she was capable of doing what she did."

"Ihya did die pretty horribly."

Daniel nodded; his eyes raising.  "She burned to death; like a paper doll on a stove."

Sam hugged Daniel around his neck. "I'm sorry Daniel; for both you and Gillian that the two of you were put in that situation."

He returned her embrace, closing his eyes. "Me too, but Jack is alive and that fact has taken away a lot of my guilt."

"But not fixed things with Gillian."

Daniel moved back. "Right, I mean I want to be friends with her again I just don't know how to face her."

Sam saw the turmoil in his eyes and placed her hand on his cheek. "Daniel you've got a warm generous heart. I know that you care for her and consider her your friend. Just open that heart and you'll find the right words."

He stared at her for a few seconds, seeing the warm smile that spread back her lips.

"All right, I'll try."

"Good." Sam's grin only widened as she planted a kiss on Daniel's mouth.

Daniel jogged down the hall towards the elevator, the sirens and lights flashing all around him. The doors parted and Jack came out; the colonel looked a little flushed and shaken up.

"Jack what's happening?"

"SG-3 was attacked by Apophis' Jaffa, we've got one dead. Major Rowski and most of her men were injured by staff weapons."

He strode down the hall heading towards the infirmary. "Come on Daniel."

"Where are we going?" Daniel chased after him.

"They need help, Doc and half her nurses are at that conference remember?" He glanced at the archaeologist over his shoulder. "Gillian's going to need all the help she can get."

"But I don't have any medical experience!" Daniel's arms were spread out a little as both men headed down the hall.

The infirmary was chaotic, the orderlies and nurses rushing around tending to the wounded soldiers. The scent of blood and burnt flesh drifting through the room, mixed in with sweat and adrenaline.

Gillian turned around and saw the two men and Sam come in; Teal'c was already there helping an orderly with the retrieving of supplies. The nurse practitioner pointed with a gloved hand towards them.

"Sam, help Didi with Major Rowski. She's got a bad shoulder burn from a staff blast." 

Sam nodded as she ran to the far side of the room.

"Daniel, you help Gloria with Captain Slater."

"Right." Daniel said as he went to the middle of the room.

Jack watched them both go. "What about me?"

Gillian swallowed hard. "Over here Jack, I need your help." Her eyes were stern; their gaze spoke of the seriousness of the situation.

He went over to the bed; his eyes widening as he stared down at Lieutenant Osbourne. The young woman's face a ghastly white in sharp contrast to her bright blonde hair; her shirt, jacket and vest were parted wide revealing a bloody puncture wound in her stomach.

"Oh my God." Jack lifted his eyes towards Gillian's face. "What do you want me to do?"

"Glove up; I need an extra pair of hands. She's bleeding internally; from what Major Rowski said she got into a hand to hand confrontation with a Jaffa." Gillian stuck her hand in the wound feeling around.

Jack slipped a pair of rubber gloves. "That looks bad."

"I'm hoping it's not." Gillian saw Jack had on his gloves and handed him a retractor.

"Put this in the wound and spread the skin back for me."

The colonel looked at the instrument. "It looks like a fork that got bent in the dishwasher." He shook his head as he did as Gillian asked, pulling back the edge of the wound.

"I can see what she had for lunch- poor kid."

Gillian wiped her forehead with the back of her hand, the sweat pouring off her. "Damn it, I still can't see Jack, can you pull it back further?"

"Sure." He widened the wound and an eruption of blood came out of it, spraying both of them right in their faces.

"Aw man!" Jack turned away from the deluge, the thick drops rolling down his cheeks; dangling from his eyelashes.

"Crap! It got her artery!" Gillian wiped her face as best she could and looked around. "Didi, Gloria we need to get her into OR now!"

The two nurses in blue scrubs came running over. "We're done; gave them both morphine for the pain and to get some sleep."

Gillian nodded, glancing back at Jack and the rest of SG-1.  "We'll be back."

The three women and two male orderlies surrounded the gurney on which the lieutenant lay and wheeled her out of the room.

The nurse practitioner walked down the hall, heading back towards the infirmary; her white coat and uniform covered in blood. She pulled the cap off her head and the mask down from over her mouth.

She spotted Jack and Daniel, one standing the other sitting just outside the door.

"How is she?" Jack asked as he leaned forward in his chair and folded his hands in front of him.

"Is she going to make it?" Daniel turned towards Gillian, his arms crossed over his chest.

"Stable…The artery had been cut; she's going to need some blood but other than that I think she'll be all right."

Both men sighed in relief.

"That's good. It's bad enough Major Rowski lost Burns; I'd hate to see her lose Osbourne too."

Jack straightened up; leaning back in his chair; his hands wiping down his face. He had cleaned up the blood from his face; however large dark splatters littered the front of his olive drab jumpsuit.

Daniel nodded in agreement, sighing. "Any idea what happened to SG-3?"

Gillian pulled the clip off the back of her head and shook her bun out as she sat in the chair across from Jack.

"Major Rowski said they ran into Apophis on P6G559 and he blocked their way back to the gate."

"So does that mean we go after them?" Daniel asked, staring at the nurse practitioner; her fatigue clear.

"No." Jack pursed his mouth. "We don't do anything unless Apophis tries to come through the gate."

"Right, the last thing we need is more wounded or dead." Gillian rested her elbows on her knees; covering her face with her hands.

"Lieutenant MacKenzie?" A deep voice startled her causing to spring back up.

"Yes?" She turned and saw one of her orderlies named Doug, the tall brown-haired man in blue scrubs, towered over her.

"Sorry to startle you ma'am."

"It's all right Doug, what's wrong?" She yawned, covering her mouth briefly.

"I was just going off duty; I thought I'd pass along that everyone is asleep all vitals normal."

"All right anything else?"

The orderly's face looked grim. "Yes ma'am, I just gave Lieutenant Osbourne the last unit of A positive and we're out of O."

Gillian groaned.  "Oh great." She sighed. "Thanks Doug, have a good night."

"You too ma'am." He glanced at Daniel and Jack. "Daniel, Colonel."

"Goodnight."

"Night Doug."

They answered respectively as the orderly headed down the hall, his car keys in hand.

Jack licked his lips. "All out of blood huh, need a donor?"

"No, you can't donate yet Jack; it's only been a couple of weeks. I'll give a pint myself."

Gillian stood up. "Which is going to be fun to do since everyone else went home for the night."

Daniel cleared his throat. "If you need help, I'll do it."

Both Jack and Gillian looked at him.

"You'll help? What do you know about drilling for blood?"  Jack creased his brow, surprised at the archaeologist's sudden volunteering.

"I know how, Janet taught me when you all had that touched disease from P3X797." Daniel's gaze bounced between the two people as if he watched a tennis match.

"Oh, all right then. Let's go to the infirmary."

Daniel and Gillian both passed Jack, a smirk formed on his mouth as he remembered his conversation with Sam.

"I'll just go get you some juice; that whole feeling woozy thing." Jack pointed to the elevator as he headed down the hall, hoping the both of them would get a chance to talk.

"You sure you're up for this?" Daniel asked as he stood beside the bed; looking down at Gillian. A tray of medical supplies was beside him and he moved it closer; picking an alcohol pad and a long piece of rubber tubing.

"No, of course I'm not." Gillian sighed wearily, shaking her head. "But Osbourne needs that blood."

She laid back in the bed, her blood soaked coat and uniform shirt were off; she now had on a blue USAF t-shirt.

"Go for it Daniel."

He nodded as he straightened out her arm; lying it across an empty tray.  The tube was tied around her upper arm as she started opening and closing her hand.

"You shouldn't have any trouble, my veins don't play hide and seek."

Daniel bent over, peering at the crook of her arm pushing up his glasses. "I think I found one."

"Okay, well you know what to do." Gillian closed her eyes waiting for the poke.

It came a few seconds later as Daniel carefully secured the needle with first-aid tape and pulled up a chair; he walked around to the left side of the bed and sat down.

"I hope that does it."

Gillian looked down at her arm, nodding. "Yeah that's it, you did a good job."

"Thanks." Daniel leaned back in the chair. "Uhh Gillian, I think we should talk."

She swallowed hard as she turned towards him. She had been hoping for this chance but now that it was here her courage all but evaporated.  "Yeah I think you're right."

He shifted in his chair, leaning forward to be more eyelevel with her.

"We both got the short end of the stick Gillian, thanks to Ihya." Daniel gazed down at the bed.

"I had guilt because I got Jack killed and you had guilt because you killed Ihya."

He lifted his eyes to Gillian, seeing her nod her head.

"And to make matters worse I couldn't get over the fact you burned her to death right in front of me."

Gillian turned her head away from him; the image of Ihya screaming as she turned a deep shade of black caused the nurse practitioner to shudder.

"I know, you weren't the only one horrified that I was capable of doing that Daniel."

He reached out and touched her hand seeing her distress in the way she suddenly stiffened.

"I was wrong to treat you the way I have been." Daniel's voice was gentle, tinged with remorse.

"You reacted to the love of your life being dead; that kind of strong emotions is what caused your blast to do that to her. I don't blame you Gillian, I blame Ihya. If she hadn't used Jack the way she did and killed him; you never would have reacted that way."

Daniel got up from his chair and sat on the edge of the bed. "You're my friend and I should have been more supportive instead of pushing you away and judging you for what you did. No one has the right to judge you; they weren't in that difficult situation."

That got Gillian to once more face her friend. "I don't blame you for that Daniel; you were just reacting to something horrible. I let my emotions amplify that blast and I took a life when I have sworn to save it." She closed her eyes briefly. "I regret what I did and I wish I could take it away."

"I know." Daniel gave her hand a squeeze. "But Ihya had to be stopped, one way or another."

Gillian shook her head. "That's not justification for cooking her to death."

Daniel licked his lips. "It was an accident Gillian; you didn't mean to burn her up like that."

"No, I didn't." She took a hitching breath; her head dropping as the tears rolled down her face.

"Gillian." Daniel scooted closer to her and hugged her as best he could, mindful of her left arm.

"I'm sorry Daniel, for everything." Gillian looped her right arm around Daniel's neck.

"I know, I'm sorry too." He rested his chin on her shoulder as he rubbed her back. She suddenly felt limp in his arms and he pulled back; seeing her eyes were closed.

"It's been a rough night for you, hasn't it?" He whispered as he eased her back on the bed.

Gillian slowly opened her eyes, to see her fiancé sitting on the edge of the bed.

Jack slid his hand into hers, caressing it gently.

"How ya doing?"  His other hand touched her hair; stroking it.

"Good, little weak but good." She gave him a smile.

"Seems you lost your tap there." He motioned with his chin to her left arm. Gillian looked down at it seeing a band aid where the needle had once been.

"Guess Daniel took it out." She leaned back against her pillow.

Jack nodded, clearing his throat. "So… did the two of you talk?"

"As a matter of fact we did." Gillian gave Jack's hand a squeeze. "We both seemed to talk things out and apologize to each other; Daniel started saying something but I passed out before he could finish."

"Well you've had a pretty exciting night." He leaned forward and gave her mouth a small kiss.

"I really should see how Lieutenant Osbourne is." Gillian started to get up when Jack touched her shoulders.

"Just take it slow okay? You might still be a little woozy."  He got up and stood beside her; gripping her arm he helped her get down from the bed.

"She's in recovery still Jack, Dr. Warner should be with her."

Gillian set her feet down on the concrete floor; her legs feeling a little rubbery.

"Are you sure you're up for this?" Jack asked as he steadied her, his arm snaking around her waist.

"Yeah, I just need some sugar that's all."

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a granola bar and a box of apple juice.

"You mean like this?"

His fiancée shook her head. "Jack you genius you." She gave his cheek a kiss.

"Come on; let's go check on my patient."

"Yes ma'am." Jack replied as he looped her arm around his neck and together the two of them left the infirmary.

Gillian was down in the lunchroom sitting at a far table; her lab coat draped across the back of the chair. She turned the page of her novel; briefly taking her attention away from it to pick up her bottle of syrup and give her waffles a healthy coat. She sighed, no one else was having breakfast this early and a meeting with Hammond had prevented Jack from joining her.

Setting her syrup back down, she focused her gaze once more in the words of her book.

"Is this seat taken?"

A familiar voice asked and Gillian's dark eyes grew wide when she saw Daniel standing with a tray in his hands and a large grin.

"Daniel- I…of course." She motioned to the empty chair directly in front of her.

He set the tray down, clearing his throat. "So how is Lieutenant Osbourne?"

Gillian folded the page she was on, closing her book and setting it down on the table.

"Good, she's going to be just fine."

Daniel borrowed the syrup and poured it on his waffles.

"That's good, I'm glad." He set the bottle down and reached out across the small table; touching Gillian's hand.

She saw it and raised her head; smiling at Daniel. "I'm sorry I fainted on you."

He gave her a nod, pushing up his glasses. "It's okay, it's not like you did because I bored you; you were giving blood."

They both stood up and came around the table, giving one another a hug.

"I missed you Daniel." Gillian sighed as she closed her eyes; her arms around his neck.

"Missed you too, you're my friend Gill and I'm grateful for that."  Daniel wrapped his arms around her waist, the grip tightening a little.

"Our waffles are going to get cold."

Daniel started laughing as he let his friend go. "Oh no we can't have that."

He sat back down and picked up his fork.

"Well they're nasty cold." Gillian tucked a stray hair behind her ear as she scooted her chair closer to the table.

"So is that the book on Ancient Greece I gave you?" Daniel cut into his waffles, cutting a bite out of one.

"As a matter of fact it is." Gillian had a sip of her coffee. "I just hadn't read it yet."

"Fascinating people those Greeks were-"

Daniel wiped his mouth with a napkin as a great discussion began…